En Pursuit Gym Workout

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Itz Linz

Itz no secret I love working out. I love doing different exercises, I love working out with different people, and I love checking out different gyms. Last Friday I completed the En Pursuit Gym Workout. Fellow St. Louis blogger and NASM Certified Personal Trainer Katie, who blogs at Katie En Pursuit, invited me in for a workout.

Katie recently started training at a small studio in St. Louis called Fitness With Anika. Sound familiar? Itz probably because I worked out with Anika (owner) back in January (read my recap [here]). I was stoked to get back in the gym because itz like an adult playground with so many different toys to play with. Katie put together a workout that included the weighted ropes, TRX, bosu balls, free weights, kettlebells, body weights, and more. I threw it in a graphic to show you the workout that Katie wrote – itz a good one!

Itz the En Pursuit Gym Workout! There is seriously no getting bored with this workout as we were constantly moving. We did each exercise for 45 seconds before getting 15 seconds of rest. And let me tell you: those 45 seconds felt loooooong and the 15 were the shortest seconds ever. Ha! It was all good though. I smiled the whole way through!

Katie was an awesome trainer! She had a lot of energy, provided tons of encouragement, and watched closely to ensure safety. I had so much fun with her and with the workout and this is definitely a workout I’d like to replicate in my own gym.

Anika, as always, was so sweet to let me come in to her studio. I loved how we both rocked our Under Armour gear. (Don’t forget to join Under Armour’s challenge in redefining the female athlete! Join this epic movement [HERE!] #WhatsBeautiful)

If you’re in St. Louis and would like to workout with Katie or Anika, learn all about the studio [HERE.] If you’d like to visit Katie’s blog, click [HERE]. Get ready to sweat!

What’s your favorite piece of equipment to play on at the gym? TRX? Bosu? Exercise ball? Boxing bags? Weighted ropes? Ladders?

Orangetheory Fitness

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Itz Linz

While I was in Arizona, I had the opportunity to visit Orangetheory Fitness. One of their locations is within walking distance of my brother-in-law’s place and it caught my interest as we drove by. After I looked it up online, I knew I had to try it. Luckily, the first class is always free, so if you live near an OTF or are traveling to a location where there’s an OTF, I recommend scheduling a class for a kick butt workout.

What is Orangetheory Fitness? Itz a group interval fitness class that is an hour long and broken into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training, using a variety of equipment including treadmills, rowing machines, TRX suspension training™ and free weights.

As stated on their website: Orangetheory Fitness has been featured in The New York Times as an effective new plateau-busting workout in which participants can burn up to 900 calories in a 60-minute session. Backed by the science of post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), our heart-rate monitored training is designed to keep heart rates in a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. The result is the Orange Effect – more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn for up to 36 hours after your workout!

What is really cool about this workout is that each person wears a heart rate monitor (provided by OTF) to track their heart rate and calorie burn. There are 5-zones where your heart rate can fall and the instructor tells you where your goal is. They make it super easy and display your name and percentage on a screen; the zone where your individual heart rate is corresponds with a color, so if you’re supposed to be giving it all you’ve got, your name and number will be red, recovery will be green, and in between will be orange. (Blue and white are for warm up when your heart rate is much lower.)

I’ve never done any type of heart rate training before, but I really liked it. It was most interesting to see how quickly my heart rate could recover after a period of intense exercise when my heart rate was elevated. Itz also neat that everyone gets their own workout. Since everyone’s fitness level is different, so are our heart rates. My orange zone is different than your orange zone, so this type of workout allows us all to get a killer workout at our own pace.

Here’s how the workout went down: There were about 20 people in the class (20 is the max) and half of us started with the weight training portion and the other on the treadmills.

I started with the weight training. There were three “blocks” with four exercises in each that would be completed and our coach, Dan, explained each exercise before the specific block. Then, we would compete the block as many times as possible in the allotted time. There was a board with the workout written down, so we could reference it as needed. I snapped a picture at the end of class, but failed to notice the board had already been changed. The picture I’ll show you is not the workout that I did, but probably the one that was for the next class.

There were suggested weights for women and men, but of course it was up to us to select the weight that was challenging. Many women grabbed the 7.5 dumbbells, and truthfully I thought that sounded light. However, being a newbie I didn’t want to look ridiculous if I couldn’t do a higher weight, so I, too, grabbed 7.5’s. I’m glad I did! We did 12 reps of each exercise and had time for about three sets. There were exercises with dumbbells, TRX, rowing machines, and medicine balls. I love how varied the workout was; there’s no chance anyone could get bored in a class like this!

After about 25 minutes for the three blocks, the two groups switched places. Now it was my turn to hop on a treadmill. There was a sign that had suggested speeds for what type of athlete you were: power walker, jogger, or runner.

Itz been way too long since I’ve run, but I knew I could handle the speed on the treadmill since we were doing intervals. I was right. I really pushed myself and enjoyed seeing my name turn red on the screen when my heart was pumping! And I’m not going to lie: I was definitely driven by the competition factor of those around me. You better believe I glanced at the treadmill next to me and made sure my speed and incline was higher. Sorry I’m not sorry. The most intense interval I did was speed 9.0 and incline 6.0. Baby, it was tough!

Do you see what type of treadmills Orangetheory has?

FreeMotion! (I first learned all about FreeMotion during the Runner’s World Half.) This is the first time I ran on a FreeMotion treadmill, and I could not believe how cushy they were! Seriously, it felt so soft underneath my feet; it wasn’t like any other treadmill I’d ever been on.

Something else impressive about Orangetheory is the trainers or coaches. Dan was our lead coach showing us what to do and calling out times, but there were two other trainers who worked with us, as well. I think this is really important to ensure safety for all members; there were a couple times where my form got corrected and I love when that happens. You could tell safety was a priority in this gym and they truly care about their clients.

I didn’t get a picture with our coach Dan, but I did get one with another trainer, Daren, who held us along the way.

I came home from the workout and immediately told Jonny, “I LOVED IT!” Now if only St. Louis could get an Orangetheory Fitness…

Have you ever been to an Orangetheory Fitness studio? Have you ever trained with a heart rate monitor?

Ellie – new fitgear for 20% off!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Itz Linz

Itz been a marvelous weekend over here! Actually itz been a marvelous four-day weekend thanks to our two lovely snow days last week. On Friday, my family went out to my parents’ new place in Innsbrook. Many good times were had including adventures while walking and climbing trees – you know how I do!

Today I have something else marvelous to share with you. Remember pv.body - the subscription workout apparel? Well, itz changed into something new – Ellie.

What is Ellie? Ellie mixes essential fashion-forward looks with high-tech performance activeware for the most stylish fitness experience you’ve ever had.

So here’s how it works: You can shop any individual piece you want on their website. Or, you can join their Fit Fashionista Club and choose any two pieces (at any price!) for just $49.95 per month (what I recommend)! AWESOME! To sweeten the deal, get this: there is absolutely NO commitment with Ellie. If you just want to try it out for a month, cool! If you want to do it for a few months, cool, too. You choose the length of time you subscribe for, and you choose the items you want. For my first month, I chose the Peek A Boo Layering Tank which is super light and airy.

I LOVE how open the back is! It uses moisture wicking fabric that dries fast which is always a bonus when sweating. I failed to take a picture of the front, but itz just plain black. Each month, Ellie will launch a brand new 24 piece collection that includes 16 tops and 8 bottoms. I’m a sucker for plain black capris or pants, so I chose two different tops this month because they were so fun!

For my second piece, I chose the Vixen Racerback.

How fun is that? Clearly, I’m digging the tops that show a little skin! Another perk of Ellie? Always free shipping, exchanges, and returns! Like I said – NO commitment! If you don’t want to choose, no problem – they’ll choose for you. Just so I’m completely transparent on my blog, I want you to know that the links I’m providing you are affiliate links. That means I do make money on any sales linked from my blog. So I do thank you in advance for that.

Regardless, I do truly love my tops and can’t wait to see what their next new line will be! Getting new fitness gear has never been this exciting, especially at this awesome price!

Oh, have I mentioned that on your first order you get 20% off? That means you’re getting two pieces for around $40. Seriously.can.not.beat.that! Go check it out!

What type of fitness gear do you like?

Snow Day

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Itz Linz

We had our first snow day in St. Louis yesterday! And we have another one today! Itz awesome because they called us off the night before, so we got to sleep in. Or at least in theory we would have gotten to sleep in, but at 5:00 in the morning (usual wake up time) I heard Zoey… throwing up in our bed. Not a fun way to wake up, especially on my day off! Luckily she was feeling better later and made up for it with several rounds of fetch and tug-of-war and looking adorable as ever.

Around 9:00 or so, I met my friend Diana at the gym where we completed this workout. Itz always fun meeting friends at the gym and even better when there are no time constraints!

After the gym we came back to my house where I prepared breakfast for us both. I made Diana a pancake and topped it with Designer Whey White Chocolate protein frosting (1 scoop protein powder + a little water), fresh raspberries, and sprinkles. I enjoyed a Three Cheese Quiche, Sausage Links, Peppers, & Onions from Diet-to-Go.

After that is when the snow and ice came, so I was bound to my house for the rest of the day. Well, I visited my grandparents before it got too nasty out. I got a lot done at home which always feels good. I finished my students’ report cards, did laundry, read lots of awesome blogs, threw dinner in the crockpot, and made a fresh batch of my Pulp Bread. Per my grandmother’s suggestion, I increased the cinnamon and honey to make it a tad sweeter, and [like always] she was right! The extra sweetness was delicious and Jonny even noticed a difference, too.

When there was about seven inches of snow on the ground, Jonny decided to go out and start shoveling the driveway. I was feeling a bit stir crazy myself, so we bundled up and headed out. While he shoveled, I took a walk around our neighborhood (I’m such a big help!). It was less than a mile, but holy cow it was tough! Nothing was plowed or shoveled and trekking through thick snow is hard work! It was nice little extra bout of cardio. Good thing I was bundled up!

And that’s how I spent my snow day. Let’s see what today brings!

How’s the weather where you live? Plans this weekend?

Push-Up Challenge

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Itz Linz

There was so much marvelous in my weekend, I hardly know where to begin. Oh wait, yes I do. I’ll begin with a vlog that we filmed Friday night during our dinner party with some dear friends. After dinner (and dessert and wine), Diana told us about her “Push-Up Challenge” that she was embarking on for the New Year. The goal is to eventually work up to 100 push-ups. As each day passes, she’ll do one more push-up than the day before. (I may not be all for resolutions, but I’m all about making strides to live a healthy life!) Friday was January 4th, and Whitney and I decided to play along.

What do YOU do at your dinner parties? Push ups, handstands, itz all good. Before I served dinner, I set out Wild Harvest Sea Salt Pita Chips and guacamole for munching.

The pita chips were perfect for dipping! They were super sturdy (I need a serious chip when it comes to thick dip), and had a great flavor with a hint of sea salt. Wild Harvest also makes Parmesan Garlic & Herb and Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips which I can’t wait to try.

For dinner, I baked chicken (sprinkled some Italian bread crumbs on top), steamed broccoli, and followed this recipe for the pasta. I think it turned out well.

For dessert I made S’more Cookie Bars (again) which are always a hit. I mean who doesn’t like graham cracker crust, marshmallow, and chocolate?

It was a marvelous dinner party, indeed. The next morning I met Whitney for a workout. We went to a studio and did a bootcamp class. Full review will come later this week, but I wanted to give a shoutout: Fitness With Anika is AWESOME!

Sunday morning I headed to my parents’. They’ve got an amazing home gym in their basement, so I took full advantage of that. I walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes (speed 3.8, incline 8) to cover 2 miles, and finished with some light weights.

*I LOVE those shorts from Yogi Clothing!

Sunday was also a day of grocery shopping. First was Trader Joe’s, and then was Whole Foods. I do love both stores, but yesterday Whole Foods took the cake. The employees at Whole Foods are always super friendly and incredibly knowledgable. One of the items I had gotten was a bottle of coconut water. The cashier was asking me if I liked any of the flavors. (Not really.) She then asked another employee to go grab something.

Next, she started telling me about how bottled coconut waters (and fruit and vegetable juices) are almost always pasteurized. During the pasteurization process, fruits and vegetables lose some of their nutritional value. She wanted me to try this Harvest Harmless 100% Raw Coconut Water.

It tasted SO good! There was definitely a distinguishable taste between this raw version compared to the pasteurized kind. I think this had a stronger coconut flavor, which I like. I absolutely love learning about and trying new products.

If you’ll remember, this is the second time an employee at Whole Foods has gifted me a new-to-me item. (The first was a carton of flax milk.) Best employees and customer service ever! Thanks, Whole Foods!

Thanks also to Katie at Healthy Diva Eats for this Marvelous Monday.

Are you participating in any type of New Years challenge? Have you ever been gifted a new product at Whole Foods? Have you ever tasted raw coconut water? Happy Monday!

Awesome Fitness Gear for $40

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Itz Linz

Who loves awesome fitness gear? Ok, the real question is: who doesn’t? Let’s be real here: What is more motivating than buying cute gym clothes that makes you feel good and look even better? I know for me (myself included) awesome workout attire is always on my “want” list, and a girl can never have too much! (Am I right or am I right?) However, some brands are a ~~wee bit~~ lot too expensive to splurge for, no matter how cute. Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you, my friends. Itz pv.body!

How cute is my top in the above picture? I get loads of compliments everywhere I wear it, and yep! You guessed it – itz pv.body! (So are my pants!) So what is pv.body? pv.body is a subscription service that ships you a custom workout outfit for just $49 a month. You take a quick style quiz online and answer questions for the style experts to best meet your needs and wants. They ask you questions regarding color and style preference, workout variety, and size.

Then, they choose from name brands that retail at over $130 and they send you a top and bottom. Shipping is always free and returns are always easy. If you don’t like it (doubtful), or if it doesn’t fit (doubtful), their customer service is seriously awesome.

My first outfit they sent me were long pants and an adorable top. My pants fit me like a glove, which for this big(ger) booty and small(er) waisted girl is quite impressive! They come up high which I actually really like because I don’t have to worry about them coming down at all. Plus, with them being higher-waisted, they are flattering and hit me at the right place (no muffin top here!). The top is a longer length and has ruching up and down the sides – again, super flattering. The top doesn’t have a ton of support for the girls, but itz totally fine for low impact activities, weight training, and yoga. Or just wearing it out and about because itz so darn cute. (Or handstands in the living room…)

Now get this: They are offering every pv.body babe that signs up this month access to their 30 Day Challenge to kick start their resolutions! The pv.body 30 day challenge provides you with your own personal dietitian and trainer to help you meet your fitness and health goals. Everyday, our pv.body babes will be given a new challenge that they can share with friends! Challenges include workouts, recipes, meal plans, group activities and more!

Document your progress through Tweets, Instagrams, or Pins with the hashtag #pv30daychallenge (follow me: @ItzLinz and pv.Body: @pvbody)

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Sign up here through my link and receive 20% off: http://pvbody.com/try/itzlinz
2. Take the pv.body 30 Day Challenge here to kick start your New Year resolutions and receive tons of fun prizes: http://pvbody.com/challenge

(IMPORTANT: Please note that you will not receive the discount though the challenge link; you have to sign up through my link above to receive the 20% off.)

Did you catch that? Using MY LINK, you get 20% off which means you get a high-quality, name-brand workout top and bottom for only $40!!! AMAZING!!!

And don’t you worry your pretty, fit buns off! There is absolutely zero commitment with pv.body. Try it for one month (for $40 using my link) and enjoy your gear. Love it? (which you probably will) Then continue your subscription for $49 a month for as long as you’d like. No commitment. No shipping charges. Easy peasy.

What are you waiting for?! Goooooo!!!

{Disclaimer: I received this outfit for review purposes from pv.body. All opinions are my own. Affiliate link provided.}

Friday Facts

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Itz Linz

Wait, itz Friday?! The end of my one full week off? Where did the time go? Well, I have been thoroughly enjoying my break, and still have Monday and Tuesday off of next week. Here are some Friday facts from this past week.

FACT: I love working out.

Shocker, right? What’s different about this week is that I don’t have to set my alarm to workout, and I can take as long as I want at the gym. Usually I’m still up by 6, but just the fact that I’m not pressed for time and don’t have to wake up at 5:15 is a bonus. Plus, I have more time to create my own workouts and try them out. Like this one.

FACT: Numerous cups of coffee have been consumed this past week.

I’m not an everyday coffee drinker, but when I have extra time I do like to leisurely have a cup. Most mornings itz been happening while I’m at my computer reading blogs as I’m in no rush to get dressed or be anywhere.

FACT: The majority of my time off has been spent in my pajamas.

And I’m totally ok with it. In fact, I got FIVE new pairs of pajamas for Chanukah. Totally serious. Jonny, my parents, my in-laws, my sister, and my brother all got me a new pair. Think I’m obsessed? Or set for life?

FACT: I’ve put together some glorious meals.

Since we had tons of leftovers from the Mexican Omelette, I put it to good use for our dinner. One of my Chanukah presents from Jonny were these dish things that you can put a tortilla in and bake them to become taco shells. Well, I found the most perfect tortillas with 50 calories, 7 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein. We used them as our taco shells and added fresh spinach, the Mexican mixture, and topped it with avocado, plain Chobani greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.

FACT: The winner of my New Year New Rules giveaway is #16 Elle. Congratulations! Please e-mail me at itzlinz@gmail.com. Thank you to all who entered; you may still register for NYNR here and use discount code nynr20 to receive 20% off.

Tell me a FACT for today.

#15 Full Body Circuit Workout

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Itz Linz

After all the decadent food, sweet treats, and flowing drinks we’ve all been consuming lately, I hope y’all have made it to the gym or done something to stay active. (Yes, I’m lookin’ at YOU!) You know how I feel about that! If not, don’t beat yourself up; instead, START NOW! Itz never too late to MOVE. And I’ve got the perfect routine to whip your booty into shape and sweat out some of that blissful holiday food. Itz a FULL BODY CIRCUIT WORKOUT!

Ooooh baby – this was a good one! My friend and I did it together and we were sweating, hearts racing, and were SORE the next day. All signs of a stellar workout in my opinion. You can, of course, substitute dumbbells for the barbell or not use any additional weight at all. I prefer barbells for lunges and squats as I think itz more comfortable and less awkward than holding dumbbells.

Last night I dropped by my sister’s house because the Chanukah gift she ordered me came in. I decided to do a last-minute vlog on how to do plank walkups because I’m not sure that’s a very common exercise. Stephanie got me new pajamas, so I’m sporting them during the video. Don’t mind my long underwear! Jacob, my nephew sidekick, is right alongside me helping out (and is in his jammies, too!).

You even got a quick glimpse of my niece, Audrey!

See? #PROOF I did it!

Which do you prefer for lunges and squats: barbells or dumbbells? Have you ever done plank walkups before?

3 Tips for the Holiday Season

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Itz Linz

Hi! Itz Linz here and I’m going to give you the three most simple tips that will keep you sane, keep you healthy, and keep you happy during this busy holiday season.

#1: ENJOY! Holidays are meant to be enjoyed, so stop beating yourself up over that cookie (or three) you ate at the party. You will be surrounded by sweats and treats; stop fighting the battle, be mindful in what you eat, and ENJOY YOURSELF! I will say, like I always do, practice moderation! You don’t have to shovel all that food in your mouth – itz not going anywhere and there will be more for later. Just truly enjoy it when you do have it.

Last night, I met my best friend and the rest of her bridesmaids at Brio for a delicious glass of wine [two], bread and olive oil, and a large salad. What’s more is the company I was with – I didn’t stress about what I was putting in my mouth because that would have taken away from the lovely ladies and our plans for an epic bachelorette party soon to come!

#2: STAY ACTIVE! So you’ll enjoy that cake and drink and other indulgence (as you should), but don’t just sit around! Get your butt to the gym, do an at-home workout, STAY ACTIVE! Most people get an extra day or two (or week and a half) off work; you have all that extra time so carve out an hour here and there to take that new spin class you’ve been wanting to try or meet a buddy who is also off work for a gym date. Just because itz the holidays doesn’t mean you have to sit around all day long. Or if you’re like me, jump around in your living room when you get home post-happy hour and thank the hubby for taking countless pictures of various poses just to get the “perfect” shot.

(For the record, the “perfect” shot never happened. So be it. I got a short workout in with all the jumping and posing that went on in the meantime.)

#3: RELAX! You probably are busier than normal during this holiday season. Do find some time to relax. For me, it came after this mock photoshoot as I was panting, out of breath, heart racing from all the jumping around. I took a second to RELAX (and snap a photo – obviously).

That’s it. That’s all you have to do: Enjoy. Stay Active. Relax. Easy enough? Now do it and get on with those holidays!

The winner of the Conscious Box giveaway is #60 Lanier. Please e-mail me with your shipping information. Thank you to everyone who entered. Come back for another Marvelous Monday giveaway!

What are your tips for the holidays?

40/20 Full Body Workout

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Itz Linz

One way to bust boredom at the gym is to constantly switch up your workout routine. So when Lindsay from The Lean Green Bean asked me to create a new workout for her last week during the Elf for Health challenge, I happily obliged. I designed this circuit, tried it out, and sent it over. Lindsay and I both agreed itz a good one!

There’s no way you can get bored with this workout since every minute is different. Let me tell you, it definitely got my heart rate up and worked my entire body. If you have a couple of dumbbells and a stability ball, this workout can easily be done at home. If not, take it to the gym (like I did)! I gathered my equipment, set my interval timer, and got right to it!

This is a workout I’ll be repeating in the near future. Itz fast-paced, effective, and as the title suggests, works the whole body. Win win!

Are you a circuit fan?

Itz Linz

itz the life of linz

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