Nike Training Club - Santa Monica!

On March 15th 2014 I became a proud member of the NTC (Nike Training Club)  How did I stumble across this event?  Being an avid Nike fan - I browse the website often.  I wish I could buy a pair of FreeRun weekly or their quarterly crops that have amazing patterns and colors. Many times I add them to my cart and X out of the site before purchasing.  I think of it as a fun hobby.  Well, around late February I was browsing the Nike home page and came across the NTC “Nike Training Club” ad for the Santa Monica conference.  Having limited to no idea what it was I browsed through everything I could find, paid the $70 and signed up.  Other than somewhat breaking my toe (and playing a soccer game on it causing me to hobble about town) I was ready to check this event out...by myself and in my favorite FlyKnits. 

Upon arriving there was a red carpet and mannequins showcasing the newest Nike clothes coming out in the near future.  ALL of them were amazing and looked awesome with their bright neon colors and cool styles.  Everyone in line was looking active and healthy.  The volunteer that signed me in said that when I head into bag check and get in line for my “Fuel Band” I can talk to the concierge about changing my sessions to be friendly to my poor pinkie toe.  Yes, you read that right...when I got in line for my Nike FUEL band.  They were giving every athlete attending a Rose Gold Limited edition Nike Fuel band.  Upon gawking at the idea of this, the volunteer said, “Well, that’s Nike for you...”

While in line for my band I was lucky enough to be ahead of a girl who is currently working her body to do a fitness competition.  She works for Whole Foods managing their ‘Healthy Starts Here’ campaign.  What a job - testing healthy foods!  She is a super fan of Nike so her work let her take a free ticket to the event.  Luckily for me, she was there solo too so we hung out throughout the day.  

The people working the event were so nice to help me get the sessions I wanted (due to my bum toe) which included a Barre class, an AB intensive session and an all around band resistance class on the main stage with the head Nike trainer.  All classes were awesome.  In fact, at the barre class - I got free Nike barre shoes which retail at $110!  Dammit, this was a score for me. The other classes I didn’t / couldn’t do were Barry’s Boot Camp, Spin Class, Yoga, Derek Hough did a dance class and a handful of other ‘sessions’.  Gaby Douglass (Olympian) was also there and she did a Q&A session you could sign up for.  I didn't get to see that but I got to meet her and joked about trying to put my leg above my head which didn't quite work very well - haha!

They had a braid/nail station for the girls, photo booths, the newest shoes for you to wear and try on through the work outs, healthy awesome food all day and the sand of Santa Monica as the back drop.  People flew in from all over and every single person - fit, thick, athletic, runner, yogi and cross fit goo roo alike - was having a great fit day.  It was an inspiring event to say the least and if you have a chance to go - I highly recommend looking into being a part of the NTC!

Until the next training event Nike - I'll just be browsing your sale section and buying too many work out clothes! 

NEW OBSESSION: Grapefruit!

So last year it was cranberries, trail mix and more recently nuts.  Nuts nuts nuts nuts nuts!  All things nuts.  Almonds were definitely my "gateway nut" which brought me into the world of cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts....all sorts of nuts.

Fast forward a couple months and it was ALL THINGS COCONUT.  Coconut this, coconut that....dark chocolate dipped coconut, raw coconut chips and anything flavored would be flavored coconut for sure.

Well nooooow - new obsession is grapefruit.  I was never a fan of bitter but this bitter cross between a sweet orange and pomelo has me drooling at the thought of the Ruby Red goodness.  I've always heard grapefruit is good for you and it tastes like it's better for you then most fruits but WHY?  What about a grapefruit makes it good for you?

Like usual, I have a need to know basis.  I decided to look a bit more into the new fruit and see what these babies are all about......

5 Health Benefits of Grapefruit:

1) Grapefruit helps in losing weight:

This fruit is high in enzymes that burn fats and has a high water content and low sodium.  This combination is the perfect food for helping to increase your metabolism.  If you can eat or drink grapefruit in small amounts everyday you will notice a quicker weight drop.  The study on www.health.com shows that people that ate 1/2 a grapefruit before their meal (without many ANY other dietary changes) lost an average of 3.5 lbs over 12 weeks because their metabolism was quicker eating the super fruit. 

2) Prevents arthritis and works as an antiseptic:

Grapefruit contains salicylic acid that helps break down the body's inorganic calcium, which builds up the cartilage of joined that may lead to arthritis.  The salicylic acid in grapefruit also works as a powerful antiseptic.  In addition, grapefruit seeds extracts can be added to water to make and antiseptic spray for treating bacterial and fungal infection. 

3) Grapefruit helps in cancer prevention:

 Lycopene is a pigment that is responsible for the red color of grapefruit.  It is a powerful agent against tumors and cancers.  There is also an antioxidant compound, called naringenin found in grapefruit.  This helps repair damaged DNA in prostate cancer cells.  

4) Grapefruit helps lower cholesterol levels:

The antioxidants found in grapefruit are effective in reducing cholesterol levels (but watch out - if you're on medication you may be told NOT to eat grapefruit).  This fruit can protect your heart a great deal.  The deep red varieties pack the biggest punch because they have higher levels of antioxidants. 

5) Grapefruit treats various common ailments:

Eating grapefruit or drinking its juice helps treat common cold and fever, dissolve gallstones, boose liver function and enhance immunity again infections.  As grapefruit contains a dietary fiber called pectin, it thus promotes better digestion.  In addition - it will help with having healthier and smoother skin!  Grapefruit also contains essential elements such as iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folic acid and B vitamins.  You can extract oil from the peel and use it in aromatherapy!  Often times they say you can cut one in 1/2, throw some sugar on it and exfoliate your skin just using the 1/2 piece of fruit. 

FYI - some Kettle ONE and some fresh grapefruit juice is fantastic.  The bitter cuts the vodka taste and it's harder to get too hungover because there isn't as much sugar as store bought "mixers"...

I'm beginning to think these new in depth views at various healthy tasty items may become a standard for Jen Is Trayning...  Stay tuned and by all means, send over some suggestions!

Instagram for fitness - forget celebrities!

When I was at the Alternative MOVE event get together last Tuesday (very cool event where we got to test the new fitness line) we were asked the question from the marketing team "who in the mainstream media do you look up to or want to be like?"  I instantly started to think about the last time I actually picked up an US Weekly and if there was any one in those magazines I 'admire' or 'look up to'.  I responded with "no, the people I look up to are REAL people!"  What an age we live in!

With Instagram I've found a place for my fitness side to gawk on chiseled bodies and get recipes and motivation from people who are just like me.  People who are healthy and active and want to share happy thoughts and positive energy - and it's FREE!  I can look in my feed and see:

As cliche as it sounds - it's NICE!  It's uplifting and exciting to see something and have it motivate you.  On top of that I use Instagram to find recipes!  I screenshot the recipes and spend the weekend to try new and different things I found on some of my favorite Insta-accounts.  

I started an instagram account for jenistrayning and I can be found and followed here: jenistrayning instagram

So - here are some of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow (and growing)...

http://instagram.com/fitmotivation

http://instagram.com/hungryhappens

http://instagram.com/peruvianbarbiie

http://instagram.com/luvfitlife

http://instagram.com/food48

http://instagram.com/ourfitlife

http://instagram.com/inspiralized

Again, a cool change in the times when you stop idolizing air brushed fake people and focus your attention on real human beings that are REALLY working hard to achieve everything they know is possible and more.  It's my regimen to start my work out on the treadmill, walking to get my heart rate up and scrolling through my insta account.  I <3 it!

Happy Saturday and enjoy the weekend!!

Full Psycle is Full of Fun!

I feel it only appropriate to post about a great exercise establishment on the ONE year anniversary of FULL PSYCLE.  I have been hitting up these spin classes more regularly this year and challenged myself to one week straight of the ass kicking cycling work out.  The class is not only up beat and fun but it definitely has a way of pushing you to your limits.  The trick behind the FULL PSYCLE class is competition.  I, like many of you, am not a fan of competition.  I get anxious and jittery at the idea of pushing myself to compete against others; however, I found that when I started to put the competition to MYSELF is when I started to excel.  The technology FULL PSYCLE employs is staring you in the face on two large HD televisions.  This shows you your POWER, RPMs and OVERALL ENERGY.

I have begun the class thinking "ehhh, I am a bit sluggish this morning, I'm going to take it easy…" and before you know it I'm instantly trying to beat my last high energy or trying to get my power above my body weight (as they instruct you to do).  I can say this sense of determination comes from the awesome staff of instructors that push you to work harder and leave it all out on the bike.  They have fun themes like "Throwback Thursday" and play loud upbeat music that makes you go go go go go!

After every class you get an email where you can view your results instantly.  They'll let you see the leader board compared to women only, men only, total energy or energy per LB.  My goal is always to get in the top 10 and many times I've come in first!  I also really want to get 500 on Total Energy…I feel it coming!

Congrats FULL PSYCLE on a year of helping motivated people achieve their personal best.  I've found this class to greatly improve my energy at Back Bay Fitness in terms of my weight training and I LOVE that it's 45 minutes and shows the results of a typical hour and 20 minute work out or more!  Also - now that I have my heart rate monitor it's fun to get actual calorie results.  Since hitting more consistent FP classes in the last couple weeks I've spun 182 miles.  GETTING IT DONE!

Happy Belated Birthday to JIT!

Whoooopsies!  I missed my "blog birthday"!  It's been over a year now of recording and sharing some cool stuff in the world of fitness.  As with anything comes ebs and flows and ups and downs but it's been nice to be completely consistent with this blog and have it be a place I can even reflect on in times of need.  I swear I must have read my first post over 10 times through this never ending journey.  So...since I love stats, I'll share them with you!

In ONE YEAR on "jenistrayning" I have had:

• 49 posts (averaging 4 a month)

• 5,417 pageviews (so cool!)

• ONE WHOLE YEAR most page views at 354 unique visitors
• Runners up = FOOD TRUCKS - Love em or hate em? - 201 views 
• and My favorite "BAR" these days is Purre Barre! - 126 views

• 11 recipe or food suggestions (about 22% of my posts are food related lol)

I've been enjoying documenting and I hope you've been enjoying following along.  I hope, if anything, this has provided you some motivation to continue to move and shake because our bodies are precious and a STRONG BODY and STRONG MIND are CAPABLE OF HANDLING MOST THINGS!

Jenistrayning 2013 STATS - you need to see it to believe it!

So if any one that's viewed this blog (all 5150 unique page views of you!!) you may have seen different work outs on top of working out with Tray such as PURE BARRE or BIKRAM.  Well, I have my stats and after all is said and done, my average for the year was approx. 1.5 work outs a day.  I'm so beyond proud of myself and, although there were definitely bumps in the road, it makes it nice to look back and see a year of activity and movement.  It has kept me sane, level headed and moving forward (despite major set backs in the last 12 months, more importantly in the last 3!).

This coming year (2014) mostly likely will not beat my 537 work outs I completed in 2013 (DAMN!), however; it will include many unique work outs and different ways of movement.  Not only this, 2014 will include a massive focus on NUTRITION.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING I'VE LEARNED THIS PAST YEAR IT'S THAT:

So 2013 Jen Is Trayning STATS....ready for it?

Morning TRAY work outs = 173

Pure Barre work outs = 129

24 Hour Fitness visits / general cardio = 125

Bikram Yoga classes = 76

Spin classes (at 24 or FULL PSYCLE) = 20

Other (rock climbing, dance, hike...etc.) = 14

"DAYS OFF" TOTAL = 36 

(7 of which were in the end of December from being sick and traveling)

I love stats and I'm a fan of seeing my efforts in terms of numbers.  537 workouts divided by days in the year = 1.47 work outs a day.  

If you've read some or all of these posts you have probably realized I'm a fan of challenges and extremes.  I'd like to think it's go big or go home and I'll never disappoint myself faced with a challenge (100 club pure barre, juice cleanses, 30 days of Bikram...etc.).  With some aspects of life this quality is good and can be a blessing but with food it's NO BUENO.  I'm looking to educate myself in the importance of balance as this is the MOST important thing to living a long happy life.  I went SO back and forth at the end of last year.  Eating terrible on the weekend and perfect Monday through Friday to lose the previous weekend, then - I did it all over again.  This is going to be the year where my relationship with food will be a healthier one and I'll be back to the perfect balance I was early Summer last year.  How fun!  Another CHALLENGE!

WELL numbers don't lie - Jen really was TRAYNING in 2013.  I'm so excited to see how my nutrition changes my results.  This is the year of the 6 pack....bring it on 2014!

New year......OLD me.

New Year's Resolutions......they're great aren't they?  However, this new year is different...This is the first year that my New Years Resolution is to go back to being the me of last year!  This year I look forward to getting back on track (post a: 30th birthday soiree, Thanksgiving, Christmas / Christmas festivities and New Years / New Years Eve consisting of travel to two large cities on the west and east coast and hanging with amazing friends and family). 

I know it seems silly that one would get so "off track" from just a couple simple holidays but I had been literally working my ass off for a year and 1/2 to work up to my 30th and I was ready for a little reprieve.  I stayed active but had fun - and this is what life is all about.  I am now working 100% on nutrition this year.  My ultimate goal is to have my nutritional life under control and organized to be able to have a BALANCE.  This is what my New Years resolution is.....BALANCE.  This is what life is all about right?  Happy 2014 and I look forward to wonderful, healthy awesome updates and recipes!

 30th Birthday Soiree...BLACK AND WHITE THEMED

 Patrice my Bikram teacher came to see the space!

 My family is pretty dang awesome :) 

 Almost as awesome as my party!

 Wayne and I at Thanksgiving dinner...more eating and drinking!

 Need more WINE!

Thanksgiving family fun at the NEW Hotel California (Lone Palm Estate)

SAN FRANCISCO for NEW YEARS!

Great friends, great times and Ryan Rowe's "Meat Snacks"

 Drink....

 Drank...

DRUNKY :)

 At Adele's Bar "Ale House" with my Aunt having a "baby beer!"

And the Man the Myth the Legend...TJ, the reason I went on this eating / drinking extravaganza :)