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Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!

8/26/2014

2 Comments

 
This Runtastic Orbit review is sponsored by Runtastic and Sweat Pink; I received an Orbit in exchange for a review.  All opinions are my own.
I often get asked from my Challenge Group members, class participants or readers - which fitness tracker is the best? Unfortunately, up until a few weeks ago, I never owned/used a fitness tracker, so I wasn't even sure what they did, let alone which was best.  I know that when I set myself a big health and fitness goal, I have to start tracking my workouts and nutrition, but as far as my movement - I never took the plunge.  I was always a little curious, especially when it came to tracking my sleep, which was why I was so excited to receive he BRAND NEW Runtastic Orbit to try out!
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
The Runtastic Orbit is a wearable activity, fitness and sleep tracker that can be worn on your wrist like a watch, or as a clip. It tracks movement, sleep and mood (double tap the button when you're happy).  It also has a screen where you can view your daily progress and is waterproof up to 100 meters!  It displays the time and also will tell you when you're 50% towards your goal, when you haven't been active in 60 minutes and when you've reached your goal.  The first time I wore the Orbit, I wore it in the shower because - why not? - it's waterproof!  I also hit 50% of my step goal, which causes the device to vibrate, right as the water turned on.  For a split second I thought I was getting electrocuted, but rest assured, the Orbit is indeed waterproof!  The information collected on the Orbit will sync with the new Runtastic Me app, which you can download to your smartphone.
BUT, perhaps one of the coolest features is that the activity tracker also syncs with all of the other runtastic apps (run, bike, swim, etc.), so it will combine your data into one place.  Unfortunately, I am not running or biking right now and never was a swimmer, so I didn't get to use this feature, but how awesome is that?
I decided to wear the Orbit for a week on the wristband and a week on the clip.  My weeks are pretty routine, so I thought it would be a good way to compare the two options.  On my first day I wore the Orbit, I was happy to see that I was taking well over 10,000 steps without even trying.  Just my normal Tuesday routine (walking to and from the train station, to and from the gym and teaching my Bodypump class) clocked in at just over 15,000 steps!  On Thursday, when I teach step aerobics, I almost reached 20,000 steps!  I think there may have been some over-counting, but it was really exciting to be able to see my daily movement over the week.
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
Tuesday
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
Thursday
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
When it came to looking at my sleep, there were some good days and some bad days.  The green represents "deep sleep", the yellow is "light sleep" and the red is "awake".  At some point while testing out the Orbit, I started sleeping with a body pillow (hello 30-week baby bump), which restricted my movement while sleeping more, but didn't really facilitate more sleeping, so I think that affected the tracking.  I'm not sure exactly how it judges the "efficiency" of your sleep, but I typically fell between 95% and 98%.
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
When I switched over to the clip, I did notice that it seemed to be more accurately counting steps, but the problem with the clip is I would constantly forget it.  I would leave it on the t-shirt I slept in or the pants I wore to work and would miss entire days of tracking.  It also once fell off my clothing, hit the floor and reset the device, so I lost all of the data since the last sync.  So while wearing the clip might be more accurate for measuring, it wasn't the best wear-method for me.
Runtastic Orbit Review - the activity tracker that will get you moving!
It was fun for me to track my movement and sleep, and while I don't have any other wearable fitness tracker to compare it to, I was satisfied with the Runtastic Orbit.  I can't wait to use it once I start running again!  The Runtastic Orbit is available for $120, which is comparable to most wearables on the market and includes 2 color band options (black and blue) along with an easy-to-use USB connection to charge it. Additional color options for the wristband are sold separately: orange/yellow/red and green/white/steel.
Do you currently use a wearable or track your daily fitness?
2 Comments

FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary

6/20/2014

2 Comments

 
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary
Tomorrow marks the first day of summer, which is also my 1-year Blogiversary (check out my first blog post ever)! Although my blogging has been a little sporadic lately, I thought I'd update you all on how things are going over here at FitYaf!  I first started this blog after running a "100 days till summer" Challenge Group.  There were so many great things that came out of the challenge - I wanted a place to share it beyond my group.

What has my fitness been like lately?

When 2014 rolled around, I set myself some fitness goals for the year.  I was very happy with everything I achieved in 2013, and was looking forward to what 2014 had in store.  I also had some personal (non fitness related goals), and if you follow be on Instagram or Twitter, you might already know that my husband and I are expecting our first child in October of this year! While I planned to be (and to this day still am) very active throughout my whole pregnancy, I quickly decided that maybe this year was not the year for these goals.  After talking to my doctor, I got the go ahead to continue exercising (and teaching fitness classes), but as far as pushing myself beyond my current fitness level - I just didn't feel comfortable doing that.  I did manage to hit one of those goals about a week before I got pregnant, so I can check off "run a 5k in under 25 minutes".
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary
Once I found out I was pregnant, I was a little scared to keep up with my workouts, specifically running.  My running workouts were typically completed in the early hours of the morning, and while I was very lucky in the "morning sickness" department, I still didn't feel great in the mornings.  At first I did try to keep up with my "1000 miles in 2014" goal, running 91 miles in January, 84 miles in February and 74 miles in March, but tracking the miles was putting a lot of pressure on me, so I decided to save this goal for 2015.  As it turns out, at around 14 weeks, I developed some pelvic pain that has pretty much stopped all running for the time being.  I was able to run the Philly Love Run in March, and although I didn't train to hit my "under 1 hour and 50 minutes" goal, I finished the race (came in at about 2 hours and 10 minutes) and felt AMAZING!
Not running has given me more time to try out other workouts, or spend more time doing the workouts I was already doing. I'm spending more time with Insanity (about 2 times/week) and Melissa Bender workouts (about once/week).  I've also been able to continue teaching 3 classes/week (boot camp, Bodypump and step aerobics).  Sometimes it takes a little extra creativity to motivate the class when my own energy is dragging, but I'm up for the challenge.  I'm also BEYOND excited to start Chalene Johnson's BRAND NEW AT HOME PiYo workout program.  I just ordered mine yesterday, and I think it's going to be a great way to add some variety to my fitness.  PiYo is an amazing workout that previously was only available in select gyms, but now you can order your own at a HUGE discount (while supplies last).  This program is a mix between Pilates and Yoga and helps build lean muscle!  Think - fast hot yoga but with the air conditioning on and awesome music playing!
 
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary - PiYo
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary




So for now, I'm still working out about 6 times/week and loving this whole pregnancy journey.  I'm taking it day by day without any expectations.  I'm trying my best not to worry about every workout or every pound gained, and I look forward to revisiting my 2014 goals next year!

What have I been blogging about?

Over the past year, my blog posts have covered topics from recipes to healthy habits to workouts and more!  Below are my top 5 blog posts:
  1. Confessions of a group exercise instructor
  2. Everything you need to know about P90x3
  3. Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness
  4. Working out with friends & 7 other habits of highly fit people
  5. FitYaf's Fitness Friday Low Impact HIIT Workout
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary
My readers come from all over the world, but here are the top 5 cities where people love FitYaf:


  1. Philadelphia
  2. New York
  3. Chicago
  4. Minneapolis
  5. Los Angeles
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And finally, here are the top 5 blog posts that people find through searching on Google:
  1. Everything you need to know about P90x3
  2. Philadelphia Art Museum Workout
  3. FitYaf's Fitness Friday Low Impact HIIT Workout
  4. Life Fitness Synrgy360 Training @ Pottruck - training in all planes & asymmetric loading
  5. FitYaf's Fitness Friday BOSU workout

What is coming in the future?

In the immediate future, I have two Challenge Groups starting soon: a Shaun T boot camp and a PiYo boot camp.  You can email me if you have any questions or if you're interested in joining on of these.
FitYaf's 1 Year Blogiversary
I do have some exciting product reviews, giveaways and recipes, coming your way this summer, and I'm going to be posting some more Fitness Friday Workouts.  I'm not signed up for any races, and I don't plan to race again until next year.  I look forward to the second half of my pregnancy and of course meeting my baby fitness guru in October!
What do you want to see more of on FitYaf.com?  Have you had experience working out through a pregnancy?
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BondiBand Review and Giveaway

6/2/2014

12 Comments

 
FitYaf's BondiBand Review and Giveaway
If you've got long hair and/or you sweat a lot when you workout, you probably are constantly searching for the perfect headband to keep your face dry and hair-free during your workouts.  If you're anything like me - you're convinced your going blind the moment your sweat drips into your eye.
I do have a couple brands of go-to headbands, but I'm always looking for something new.  That's why I was so excited when BondiBands sent me some to try out.  Not only are these headbands fun and functional with great wicking capabilities, the company also donates 10% of all profits to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.
There are headbands of all colors and sizes, and even ones with fun sayings on them.  These are the ones I was sent to try out:
FitYaf's BondiBand Review and Giveaway
I tried these bands out for both a high intensity cardio workout and a weightlifting session.  The bands staying in place and were able to wick-away all of the sweat from my forehead (which can be A LOT during those high intensity cardio sessions).
FitYaf's BondiBand Review and Giveaway
FitYaf's BondiBand Review and Giveaway
Here are a few facts about BondiBand:
  • Their products are unisex.
  • They are 100% American made.
  • They can be worn on their own or under other hats, helmets, and visors.
  • They are made of stretchy, breathable material which allows them to fit virtually every head size and shape.
  • Their fashion lycra fabric is fun and perfect for every day.
  • In warm weather the "No Slip, No Drip" moisture wicking headbands are great to wick away sweat, keep hair back, and keep ear buds in ears.
  • In colder weather, they are great to keep your ears warm.
  • Bondi Band donates 10% of pretax profits to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
  • In addition to the headbands they offer armbands, wristbands, wicking hats, wicking ponytail hats, wicking pigtail hats, wicking neck gators, wicking sweat towels, and even items for your children and dogs!!!
  • They offer customized products.
But don't take my word for it - try it out on your own.  Enter below to win your own FREE BondiBand!
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My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway

5/13/2014

6 Comments

 
If you know me personally, you know I like to make my own shirts when I run marathons.  Unfortunately, I'm not that skilled, don't put too much time into it and wind up ironing something on to a cotton T-shirt.  While I don't hate running in cotton as much as most people, it's certainly not ideal.
FitYaf's My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway
FitYaf's My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway
I was recently contacted by MyRaceRagz about trying out one of their custom made tech T-shirts.  I got to pick the style of the shirt and upload my own design onto a microfiber performance polyester shirt.  While I don't have any specific races coming up that I could design a shirt for, I've been dying for a shirt that says "I run this city" and a picture of downtown Philadelphia - they ALWAYS seem to be out of these by the time I get to race expos.  So, I took to the computer (and PicMonkey.com), and designed my own shirt!
FitYaf's My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway
FitYaf's My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway
My Race Ragz is a custom apparel company that offers printing and embroidery services.  One of the unique things about My Race Ragz is that they will do your printing with no minimum order.  The printing is done through a dye sublimation process where the dye is applied directly to the shirt. This ensures that your shirt retains its sweat-wicking properties and that the design never peels off (however this does limit the shirt color to white only).

My Race Ragz offers a wide range of styles for men and women and three fabric types: a 100% Microfiber Performance Mesh, a 100% Smooth Performance Microfiber, and a stretchy 88% Microfiber/12% Spandex blend. The My Race Ragz website has a variety of standard designs available, but you can upload your own design if you want!

Creating my custom shirt was easy. I went to the “Create” tab, uploaded the art, placed it where I wanted it, and submitted it!  
The shirt itself is excellent. It’s a nice quality, a normal thickness, and wicks well.  I went with the men's T-shirt style, because that's what I prefer to wear while running.  There are a variety of styles to choose from, including tanks and short sleeve shirts - both fitted and loose.  I can't wait until I can custom design a shirt for a specific race!
Want to win your own custom My Race Ragz shirt?  Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
FitYaf's My Race Ragz Review and Giveaway
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FitYaf answers, 1st edition - Finding Balance

2/14/2014

1 Comment

 
I was recently contacted by one of my readers, and I thought her question is probably one that many of you have, so I decided to answer it here.
Dear FitYaf,
How do you find the right balance between strength training and cardio? I know that most fitness advice out there tells you not to ignore the former in favor of the latter (even though cardio always seems to work better for me for weight loss, even though I know the logic is that strength training helps your metabolism). How much strength training do you need to do per week (time wise and number of days wise) to get benefits? And what do you find is a good weekly balance between strength training, cardio and rest days? Additionally, do you tend to "count" yoga as strength training?

Missy
FitYaf answers, 1st edition - Finding Balance
Thank Missy for your question!  I think it's a great one and one that many people struggle with - finding that perfect balance.  Like any situation in finding balance, it's a give and take.  There are only so many hours in the day and so much your body has to give.
First things first - finding that balance depends on your own personal circumstances as well as your GOALS.  Maybe you're training for a race?  Maybe you want to fit into your skinny jeans?  Maybe you are training for a figure competition?  Maybe you just want to improve your health?  Believe it or not, your final goal is going to dictate your training or workout schedule.
Your primary goal will give you a general starting point for figuring out exactly how to balance your training, as well as what type of cardio and weight training you should be doing.  In addition to your primary goal, you will also need to take into account two other major factors:
  • Your body type - Are you naturally slim?  Do you gain muscle easily?  Do you tend to hold onto fat readily?
  • The type of training you're doing - Is it high intensity or low intensity?  Does it fatigue you for weights?  Does your weight training fatigue you for your cardio?

Training to gain muscle

You might be gaining muscle because you want a certain appearance, increase your metabolism or prevent injury.  A good starting point is three strength training sessions per week, 20 to 30 minutes per session.  Weight training three times per week should be sufficient to maintain and even build muscle mass.

Training to lose fat

With fat loss, your primary goal should be burning calories while sparing as much muscle as possible. Since you're most likely eating fewer calories, your body is not going to be eager to add muscle, therefore it's best to focus on keeping what you've got.  Aim for 2-4 cardio sessions/week as well as maintaining proper nutrition so that you can make the most out of he fuel you give to your body.  And let's not forget that proper nutrition is KEY to any training plan!

Training for a specific sport

If you are training for a specific sport, how many cardio sessions you need will depend greatly on the cardiovascular and muscle mass and strength requirements of your sport. Naturally, a long-distance runner is going to have far different requirements than a hockey or football player. The type of cardio training you do will also come into play.

Types of cardio training

The type of cardio training you do will have a tremendous impact on the frequency at which you can do it and still get the results you want.

Low-Intensity Cardio: Low-intensity cardio training, such as walking or slow cycling, can be done practically every single day (even several times a day) for longer periods of time. This type of training is very easy for your body to recover from, regardless of your body type and your goals. It will have very little negative impact on muscle gain and can help you burn calories for fat loss.

Moderate-Intensity Cardio: Moderate-intensity cardio training, such as jogging or swimming, will need to be done a little less frequently. This type of training requires more energy both to perfom and for your body to recover from. A person trying to lose fat can generally perform four to six moderate-intensity sessions per week at around 20 to 30 minutes each. A person trying to gain muscle should reduce this amount to two to three sessions per week.

High-Intensity Cardio: High intensity training is the toughest of the bunch but can actually net you the greatest and fastest results. This type of training is exemplified in activities such as sprinting and interval training. If you've ever had a coach make you run up and down hills, you've done high-intensity cardio. Basically, anything that you do as hard as you can for a short period of time could be considered high intensity training. In fact, intense weight training with short rest periods is very good for cardio capacity (the theory behind Cross Fit workouts).

High-intensity training is extremely effective for fat loss as it not only causes you to burn a lot of calories during the activity, it also raises your metabolism for a long time after the activity is done. This type of hard training should be done less frequently than the more moderate forms of cardio as it is much harder for your body to recover from. If you are training for fat loss, you should do at least two but no more than three high-intensity cardio sessions per week. If you are training for muscle gain, once or, at the most, twice per week should be the limit.

So what should YOU do?

The bottom line is that there is no perfect training plan that will fit everyone.  You're likely going to have to experiment with different training plans and schedules to find something that works best for you.  And just when you think you've got it all figured out, you might plateau and decide you need to switch it up again.  So make sure you're doing both cardio and strength training no matter what your goals are, do workouts that you enjoy and challenge you and be sure to mix things up to avoid plateaus.
And YES, Missy!  Yoga "counts" as strength training!  Unless your goal is to do a pull-up, in which case, you'll probably want to work on your pull-ups instead.

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SweatSync - the social fitness GPS

1/28/2014

2 Comments

 
Do you remember reading about my partnership with FitMapped?  I'm so excited to be sharing this BRAND NEW TOOL SweatSync with all my Philly Yaffies (If you're in Chicago, NYC, Boston or Los Angeles, you can participate too)!  I often encourage people who want to reach specific health and fitness goals to increase their level of accountability by becoming part of a group, and this can be the perfect way to do just that!
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
Sweat Sync is a tool to motivate fitness seekers and encourage them to maintain their fitness routines through a social platform. Through this platform, you will be able to see friend’s fitness activity, plan workout meet-ups, compare fitness ‘scorecards’ and find other fitness enthusiasts who share the same fitness interests.  In addition, you will still be able to search for fitness entities through FitMapped.  The goal is to help you stay motivated and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  The concept is available to residents of NYC, LA, Chicago and Boston, and NOW PHILADELPHIA!
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It's super easy to sign up and get connected. Just START HERE!
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
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Once you've signed up, login to SweatSync.
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
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Now that you're signed up and logged in, you can view you stream.  This view gives you a snapshot of your account.
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
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Your calendar is where you'll add your workouts, allowing your to set a schedule and schedule a meet-up with a fellow fitness enthusiast.
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
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Earn badges for logging your workouts, friending other fitness enthusiasts and writing reviews!
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
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Write reviews to help spread the word about your favorite place to sweat!  Then read the reviews your friends write!
SweatSync - the social fitness GPS
I can't wait for everyone to create a profile, tell us where you sweat, and start planning your sweat sessions with your social circle.  Don't forget to add me as a friend!  Research demonstrates that social support is a strong indicator in helping people achieve long-term weight loss or weight maintenance.
Is your favorite place to sweat not listed on FitMapped?  Comment below and we'll get it added ASAP!
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What's playing on my iPod - Winter 2014

1/16/2014

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It's time for another round of "what's playing on my iPod!  Check out these tunes straight off my brand new 2014 running playlist!  I'm still rocking my Fall 2013 playlist too - I can't get enough of Katy Perry's Roar!


  1. Timber, Pitbull Featuring Ke$ha 
  2. Bounce That, Girl Talk
  3. Wake Me Up, Avicii
  4. Mike Will Made It, Featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J 
  5. Royals, Lorde
  6. Shoes for Running, Big Boi
  7. The New Workout Plan, Kanye West
  8. Run the World (Girls), Beyonce
  9. Radio Stereo, Duck Sauce
  10. On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons
What's playing on my iPod - Winter 2014
What's your favorite song to run to this season?
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Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness

1/13/2014

8 Comments

 
Melissa and I met when we were both participating on a dance team in Pittsburgh almost 10 years ago.  We haven't seen each other in a while, but thanks to social media, we've kept in touch.  Melissa now runs her own blog and YouTube channel which features full length workout videos.  Her workouts are amazing and great for all levels!  If you haven't checked out her videos, you're missing out!  Give them a try - most of them don't even require any equipment!  Thanks Melissa for sharing your story with us!
Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness

It started with a blog...

Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness
My fitness blog started in grad school. Graduate school was hard, and stressful. Jesse (my husband and blog videographer) and I went to grad school together, and we lived off campus. Our commute typically took us 1.5 hours each way. Our class schedule was equivalent to a full time job, before factoring in homework and reading assignments. Jesse and I also worked part time at a restaurant so time was short, and we were very busy. 

Prior to starting graduate school, I was enrolled in a yoga certification program, teaching yoga 5X per week, and running with Jesse. I found that I really missed teaching. Sometimes in between classes I would teach yoga to our classmates in the park across the street, or even in the hallway outside of our classroom. 
I was also experimenting with new workout styles. Running and yoga both take a lot of time, which I was very short on. Soon I was teaching these new workouts to my classmates, and I found that when I was teaching I felt much happier and more fulfilled. 

At the same time I was getting more and more questions about what I did to stay in shape. When people found out that I didn't workout in a gym they were perplexed. How was I staying in that kind of shape at home and without lifting weights?


My background in yoga had helped me form a very holistic view of creating strength and balance in the body. In graduate school we had a wonderful anatomy teacher that expected us to do more than memorize muscles and planes of movement. We were required to understand the functional movements of each muscle, and which activities and motions would be limited if these muscles were weakened or paralyzed. We also learned which muscles were activated when moving your body through different planes and the biomechanics impact of inefficient movement patterns. We physically saw these muscles in our cadaver lab courses, which was very mentally and emotionally challenging for me, but expanded my understanding and appreciation of the human body. 
Throughout this process, my workouts and my body were changing, and people continued to ask about my workouts. My passion for wellness was also being further cultivated in my courses as I learned how many diseases and illness processes could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes. It occurred to me that many people didn't know what they could do to improve their health and fitness at home. So many people think that exercise only occurs in a gym, and it takes hours each day to get in shape. 
Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness
As we entered our second year of graduate school, I was feeling tired. I knew that I needed to do something that was not school or work related for the pure pleasure of the pursuit. I wanted to help people on a larger scale, and share something that I loved and was passionate about. I wanted to right an occupational injustice that occurs when people think it takes a lot of time and money to be fit and healthy. Everyone has the right to a healthy and fit lifestyle, and that should be free. There is a lot of talk about prevention and wellness programs, but it is an emerging area. A lot of wellness programs have a mission, but they lack a method of sharing that mission on a large scale. I turned to my blog and youtube channel and I started sharing my workouts in the hopes of showing people that they could do this at home. 
Friends of FitYaf - How I Became a Fitness Blogger: Melissa Bender Fitness
I started my blog in 2011, and since that time I have shared every workout that I do to get in shape and stay in shape. As of the time that I am writing this, that is over 450 different free home workout videos. I started my blog out of a passion for fitness, and I continued to share that love. I have been amazed at the response I have gotten throughout this process. Some people don't understand why I spend so much time blogging, but for me it is very rewarding. To see people make positive changes in their lives, their health, and their self perception is an amazing thing. I believe that fitness helps improve the quality of your life, your health, and your future. When people send me pictures of their results, or of themselves doing my workouts with their families I feel that I am making a positive impact on people's lives. 
I am thrilled at the success my blog has experienced thus far. If you are a blogger, fitness or otherwise, my advice to you is to share something you love. Share something and be consistent. If your blog is driven solely by increasing your views it may be time to rectify your approach. Drive your blog by creating content that you are passionate about and offer your readers something that will benefit them.

If you want to spice up your workouts and try something new you can join me at www.BenderFitness.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and a special thank you to Jillian for asking me to share my story.

Have a great day!

Melissa Bender

Be sure to follow Melissa:
www.BenderFitness.com
www.facebook.com/MelissaBenderFitness
www.youtube.com/mdloughy
Which Bender Fitness workout will you try first?
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FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

1/10/2014

4 Comments

 
We're 10 days into 2014, and goals and resolutions are still fresh on everyone's minds!  In the spirit of '14, I've put together a brand new Fitness Friday workout for you!
Notes about this workout:
  • Some of the moves in this workout are high-impact.  Please feel free to modify the workout to make them low-impact if necessary.
  • Go through the workout twice for a full 30-minute workout
  • Be sure to stretch at the end of the workout.  Check out some post-workout stretches from Health.com.
  • If you're unsure about any of the movements, check out the videos linked to the name of the exercise or google them before you start the workout.  You want to be able to do this workout all the way through without stopping to look something up.

Cardio - 14 minutes

Choose your favorite cardio workout:
  • running
  • walking on an incline
  • power walking
  • spinning
  • rowing
  • stair climbing
FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

The '14's

Push ups

FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

Squats

FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

Squat jumps

FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

Tuck Jumps

FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout

Lunges - 14 on each side

FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout
FitYaf's 2014 Kickoff Fitness Friday Workout
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My first class at Unite Fitness cross-training studio

1/8/2014

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I recently started working with a company called FiTMAPPED, which is a comprehensive, fully searchable directory of fitness studios and gyms in NYC, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles, and NOW Philadelphia!  I'm so excited to be involved with such a great community and help them get the word out about different options for keeping up with your fitness.  Part of what I'm working on is putting Philly gyms - big and small - on the "fit map".
What better way to learn about gyms than to try them out on my own!  My first stop on my Philly Phitness tour (see what I did there?) was Unite Fitness at 12th and Sansom, right in Center City.  I've been wanting to try out this gym ever since I befriended Anne Marie Everhart on Twitter while training for the Philadelphia Marathon.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take Anne Marie's class, but I rallied up some of my favorite fitness friends and signed up for Juliet's class the day after Christmas.  The class is designed so that you spend 25 minutes in the cardio room where you can choose from the stationary bike, treadmill or rowing machine, 5 minutes stretching, 30 minutes strength training, where this particular class featured exercises for your legs, back and biceps, and 15 minutes of yoga/stretching. At the end of the class, we'll have worked out heart, muscle and mind!
 
My first class at Unite Fitness cross-training studio
My first class at Unite Fitness cross-training studio
My friends and I chose the treadmill for our cardio workout, where we alternated between different levels of sprinting and hill work.  While I often do speed work on my own, I never do hill work, especially on a treadmill. Although I KNOW the benefits of the hill work, I always choose something else to do instead.  I really like how I was challenged throughout the 25 minutes - whether you're trying to burn calories to lose weight or take time off your next marathon, these types of workouts are going to help!
After some light stretching, we moved into another room, where we worked our legs, back and biceps.  The workouts were setup in circuits, where we tried to see how many rounds of each circuit we could do in a predetermined amount of time. This part of the class seemed to move quickly, and before I knew it, we were on to yoga.  I generally don't love yoga, but it was basic and quick, and just what I needed to stretch after my hour-long workout.
In general, I don't love it when the instructor for the class doesn't do the workout with the class, but I do understand that often in these small studios, instructors are teaching more than once class per day, and it would be impossible for them to do every class.  After class, Juliet was happy to talk to us about membership and class-pack options, and also showed us how to use resistance bands to help with pull-up training!  I have never used them before, but can totally see how helpful they can be!  The studio even has lockers for you to use to keep your stuff safe during class!  Overall, I had a great workout and I look forward to going back.  I like the concept of the workout - it really touches on so many pieces of effective movement.  While I wouldn't benefit from a membership, since I can realistically only make it there about once/week, I think it'd be a great option for anyone who needs a little push to help meet their goals!  There are different programs you can sign up for, both nutrition- and exercise-based too!
There is also a location in Mount Laurel, NJ, and rumor has it there will be more popping up soon!
Have you ever tried Unite Fitness?
FOLLOW ME ON MY PHILLY PHITNESS TOUR:
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    Jillian [FitYaf]

    fitness enthusiast.
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