Category: Weight Loss

Searching for spa cuisine recipes? These fresh recipes, loaded with colorful veggies and lean protein, are busting with flavor and nutrition to help you feel good and glowy sans an expensive trip to the spa. 

Hi friends! I hope you’re enjoying the week so far. Today is day 3 of the Dr. Cabral detox (use FITNESSISTA20 if you want to do this at your own time!), and I’m feeling amazing. It was just the little boost and reset I’ve been craving, and I’ve slept so well the past two nights.

For today’s post, I wanted to talk a bit about spa cuisine, since I’m focusing on extra flavorful and fresh eats the next week. Spa cuisine is typically made up of fresh, local, seasonal, or organic ingredients that are presented in a simple yet colorful way. They tend to focus on quality rather than quantity, and are not only nutrient-dense but are packed with flavors. You’ll often see lots of fresh produce, herbs, and citrus in spa meals. Today, I’m sharing a roundup of spa cuisine recipes that you can easily recreate anytime.

Many of these recipes are also gluten-free and dairy-free. 

10 Spa Cuisine Recipes

1. Winter Spa Salad with Lemon Chicken via Pinch of Yum

Winter Spa Salad with Lemon Chicken! Loaded with chickpeas, spinach, pomegranates, Cara Cara oranges, avocado, shallots, herbs, dressing, and lemon chicken.

2. Thai Cauliflower Rice Salad With Peanut Butter Sauce via The Awesome Green

An exotic and colorful combination, which replaces the rice with the nutrient-loaded cauliflower. The secret of this dish is a delicious ginger-peanut butter sauce.

3. Healthy Chicken Quinoa Beet Bowls with Herb Gremolata via Aberdeen’s Kitchen

Healthy chicken quinoa beet bowls with herb gremolata – Clean eating, healthy living, and a tasty recipe all in one bowl! Tons of protein, nutrients, and even some vitamin C to keep you going, topped with a fresh herb gremolata.

4. Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon Bowl with Potatoes and Avocado Goddess Sauce via Half Baked Harvest

Baby potatoes roasted alongside blackened salmon and served bowl style with steamed brown rice, feta cheese, and the most deliciously addicting avocado goddess sauce. This is quick, easy, extra colorful, super flavorful, and so delicious. The perfect dinner to serve any night of the week. Or? Incorporate this healthy recipe into your weekly meal prep and enjoy for lunches and dinners throughout the week.

5. Easy & Customizable Collard Wraps via Ambitious Kitchen

Learn exactly how to make collard wraps for the perfect easy lunch filled with veggies and protein! In this step-by-step tutorial for making collard wraps, you’ll learn how to prep your collard greens, fill them with delicious ingredients and roll them up well. Fill your homemade collard wraps with one of our delicious suggested recipes!

6. Quinoa Cucumber Salad with Feta, Dill & Mint via The Bojon Gourmet

This perky quinoa cucumber salad gets crunch from cucumber and radish marinated in kicky lemon garlic vinaigrette and a fresh bouquet of dill and mint, all topped with briny feta. An easy, nourishing vegetarian lunch or side dish.

7. Raw Apricot & Ginger Energy Bars via So Vegan

If you’re craving something on the sweeter side, these raw apricot and ginger energy bars are packed with chewy dried apricots, pure maple syrup, and crunchy nuts and seeds. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up!

8. Avocado & Citrus “Ceviche” via Cookie & Kate

This seafood-free citrus “ceviche” with avocado makes a wonderful appetizer, side salad or party dip! This vegan ceviche is delicious, colorful and healthy.

9. Fresh Tofu Salad Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce via Minimalist Baker

30-minute tofu salad rolls with fresh veggies, basil, and tofu, served with a savory-sweet cashew sauce. A hearty plant-based entrée or side!

10. Detox Water via Yummy Mummy Kitchen

These detox water drinks with lemon are infused with fruit like cucumber and strawberry for delicious hydration.

You may also enjoy:

Sharing my thoughts on the Dr. Stephen Cabral 7-day detox, and sharing the recipes I enjoyed while I was on this Functional Medicine detox. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, you can use my code FITNESSISTA20 for 20% off. 

Hi friends! Happy Monday! How are you? I hope you’re having a lovely day so far. We had a great weekend. I got a ton of work stuff done, we went to the pumpkin patch, and celebrated the Pilot’s bday a day early. His real birthday is today and I’m looking forward to more celebrations this evening with my favorite guy. I also wrapped up the 7-day Dr. Cabral detox with our community last night and feel SO good! I’m excited to share more details about my experience in this post with ya.

In this post, I also wanted to share some of the recipes and meals I enjoyed for my friends out there who are considering doing this functional medicine detox at their own time. It can be helpful to have meal ideas for days 3-7. This post is a beefy one because there’s so much I wanted to include. Grab a mug of coffee or tea and I’d love to chat with ya and share my experience.

Here we go!

Dr. Cabral 7-day detox review + recipes

What is the detox and how does it work?

– It’s a liver-based detox to help reset your body, provide a break from digesting heavy foods, and potentially help your body eliminate toxins that we accumulate from our environment. It includes functional medicine ingredients and Ayurvedic herbs to support phase 1 and 2 liver detoxification.

– It’s nutrition-focused. It includes the POWERHOUSE Daily Nutritional Support powder (which I’ve had in my smoothies for the past couple of months and notice a difference in how I feel when I drink this smoothie), and meal guidelines for the remaining meals. The goal is to NOT have your body depleted of nutrients during the process.

– It can potentially help with weight loss (although that’s not a focus for me), along with anti-aging, and total body wellness. 

– It’s only 7 days! When I first started working with a naturopath (back in the old days! It was like 2010), he had me do a month-long detox that was similar in format (but did not include the Ayurvedic supplements). It’s so much easier to do for 7 days, and I feel like my results were even better from the extra nutritional support. (The first two days are supplements, fruit, and smoothies only, and on day 3, you add in nutrient-dense meals using their meal guideline/template.)

Each detox kit includes the following: 

Daily Nutritional Support: 

This one-stop-shop for vitamins, minerals, protein, electrolytes, and antioxidants is the heart-and-soul of the Dr.Cabral Detox. With 15 grams of vegan protein, Daily Nutritional Support provides your body with much-needed energy and nutrition while your body begins to rid itself of toxins.

FM Detox:

Utilizing the most recent research in Functional Medicine, FM Detox provides the compounds necessary to support both phases of liver detoxification. Essential amino acids, antioxidants, and botanical extracts like milk thistle help the body to capture and move toxins to the liver where they can be metabolized and removed during phase two. Ingredients like dandelion root extract support the production of bile which aids in elimination. As a diuretic, dandelion root increases water supplied to the liver which facilitates toxin elimination in the urine.

AYU Detox:

Incorporating ancient Ayurvedic healing traditions that support optimal detoxification, the AM Detox helps begin the detox process. Various diuretics move water to the liver and increase the solubility of toxins. Triphala, the combination of three plants: Emblica Officinalis, Terminalia bellerica, and Terminalia chebula, have been studied for their roles in gastrointestinal health. When used in conjunction, it is suggested this powerful trio promotes the growth of beneficial gut microbes Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, while inhibiting the growth of undesirable strains.

(You can read more and explore scientific references here.)

My experience by day:

Day 1:

Day 1 was just shakes and supplements, and I expected to feel run down and tired. I felt amazing. I had a lot of energy and felt clear and focused. I took this day entirely off from the gym and spent extra time meditating and reading in the evening.

Day 2:

I expected hunger to kick in, and it hit pretty hard in the afternoon. I ate a bowl of raspberries and blueberries, and felt much better. I figured if any point during the detox if I needed to skip ahead to Day 3, I’d do it, but didn’t feel like I needed it. I did feel more tired this day, and only took Maisey for our usual walk for activity.

Day 3:

First day of adding back whole foods and food had never tasted so amazing in my life. This is why I LOVE doing occasional resets; it brings me back to my tastebuds and the foods I genuinely enjoy. I made channa masala, which I knew was going to be flavorful, but it was absolutely bursting with spices and citrus. It was incredible. I felt my energy soar in the afternoon, so I did a quick Sculpt Society workout (no cardio, just light weight and bodyweight strength).

Day 4:

I feel like I really hit my groove with the plan and felt myself looking forward to the shakes and each meal. This was another off day from the gym and I just walked Maisey. Lunch was an awesome Mediterranean lentil dish for lunch (recipe below) and we had the best scallops and asparagus for dinner. (Got the scallops from ButcherBox and the girls went crazy for them.)

Days 5-7:

I started to get back into a more *normal* workout routine, but modified quite a bit since I felt weak. I did an F45 class one day, a hot yoga day the following day, and took Sunday as a rest day.

Something I noticed during this detox:

– My Oura scores were the best they’d ever been consecutively. I had multiple triple crown days (usually if I get 3 for the entire week, I’m pumped) in a row!! I slept SO well and had vivid dreams each night.

(5 triple crown days in one week!)

My final thoughts/results:

Physically, I feel like inflammation is absolutely down in my face and wish I would have taken photos to compare. My wedding ring usually fits me snugly and is now loose. Mentally, I feel even more energized, focused, and clear. I feel like I’m back in touch with the way I like to eat, that makes me feel and perform my best. Pre-detox, it was very normal for me to walk past the pantry and grab a cookie from the cookie jar each time. Sugar and treats started to become habits rather than something I truly enjoyed.

Fruit and veggies started to taste bland to me, and I found myself craving more and more sugar. This helped me remember how good it feels to focus on fresh, whole, foods and how good they taste. I will absolutely do this again, and next time, I might go for the 14-day plan. Many of the gals in our group are continuing with the program because they feel so amazing.

Here’s a short video I made with my experience:

 

7-day detox recipes

Detox lunch recipes

Channa Masala

Makes about 5 large servings (save any leftovers for upcoming lunches or freeze)

Ingredients: 

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger

15 oz tomato sauce

8 oz water

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 cans chickpeas, drained

1/2 bag spinach

Cilantro and lemon, for serving

In a large pot, sauté the onion, ginger, and garlic in a little avocado oil until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper, and add all of the spices. Coat with the spices, and then stir in the tomato sauce, water, and chickpeas. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Wilt in the spinach for a minute or two, and then serve with chopped cilantro on top and a squeeze of lemon juice. I enjoyed this on cauliflower rice and it was incredible! etovers were even better.

Mediterranean Lentil Dish

Makes 4 servings (save any leftovers for upcoming lunches or freeze)

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes rehydrated in water (I like to do this because they’re much softer)

16 oz cooked black lentils

8 oz artichoke hearts

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 bag of spinach

Dressing:

2 tablespoons olive oil

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon each of thyme and basil

In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic in a little avocado oil until fragrant. Add the lentils, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and season well with salt and pepper. Warm through while you make the dressing. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together and pour on top. Serve with extra lemon juice.

Hummus and veggie wraps

– I made the hummus with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper and then served it on romaine boats with avocado, bell pepper, and carrots

Detox dinner ideas

Hot bar! One night P had soccer late and I didn’t have time (or energy) to make anything. We went to hot bar and I grabbed Paleo chicken, cabbage slaw, broccoli, cauliflower, and a scoop of hummus. It was perfect.

Scallops and asparagus (I made risotto for the fam, too): just pan-seared them with salt and pepper, and served with roasted asparagus (garlic powder, avocado oil, and salt and pepper)

Blackened salmon in the air fryer

Makes 4 servings

Here’s the recipe for the salmon:

1/4 teaspoon each: cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, chili lime seasoning from Trader Joe’s (to the fam’s I added 2 tablespoons brown sugar)

Make the blackened seasoning by mixing the above ingredients in a small bowl

Season the salmon well with salt and pepper and preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees. Fully coat the salmon with the seasoning and spray the basket of the air fryer with avocado oil. Add the salmon and cook 7-10 minutes until cooked through. Serve with any sides you like! We had this with baked sweet potato and salad with lemon and olive oil

Turkey burgers with avocado and veggie salad: the Pilot made the turkey burgers, and the fam had theirs on buns with waffles fries and salad, and I ate mine on a chopped veggie salad with avocado

Discount code for the Dr. Cabral Detox programs: 

If you’re curious about checking out these programs for yourself, you can use my code FITNESSISTA20 for 20% off. Please let me know if you decide to give this a whirl! Doing this before the holidays helped me reset before a time of extra sugar and events.

Hope you have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

Re-sharing this post because it’s a yearly staple for us and I know so many of you love them, too!! These flourless pumpkin chocolate chip bars are SO good and I usually have all of the ingredients for this healthy fall dessert on hand and ready to go.

Let the avalanche of all things pumpkin begin.

I feel like this year, a lot of people are playing it cool when it comes to pumpkin. You know, trying not to act *too* excited about its arrival. (Also it could totally be the fact that many of us are still experiencing true summer weather.) And then, there are people like me who have already enjoyed a PSL (or a few….), and upon seeing the shelf of pumpkin-filled cans at Trader Joe’s, I did the slow-mo run to them, arms wide open, and a creepy smile on my face.

I just can’t help myself.

While the Pilot doesn’t go crazy for pumpkin at all, I gave birth to two pumpkin-obsessed little friends, who share my enthusiasm for this festive gourd.

Flourless Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

This afternoon, I decided to embark on my first pumpkin baking adventure of the season, with chocolate chip pumpkin bars. It was a twist on my beloved flourless blueberry breakfast bake (recipe is in the book!), and uses creamy almond butter and egg as the base. The result: a dense, buttery, perfectly spiced, and sweet healthy pumpkin dessert or snack. It’s also amazing in the morning with some butter and a side of scrambled eggs.

Here’s this healthy pumpkin recipe if you’d like to give it a try!

and a video!

Print

Nutrition stats are here.

xoxo

Gina

Something to talk about: Pumpkin fanatic: yes or not so much?! What’s your favorite fall dessert recipe?

Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I hope you’re having a great one so far! We’re having the best Fall Break with the kiddos, and am looking forward to a shorter week this week, and getting everything ready for the Pilot and P’s bday celebrations. I’m also starting the Dr. Cabral 7-day detox today with our community. You can still absolutely order a kit and join in on your own time when it arrives (use FITNESSISTA20 for a discount).

For today’s post, I wanted to share some of the changes I’ve made in my routine that have moved the dial towards productivity, improved mood, and sleep. It’s fun to adjust things over time and see what works, and this is what has been working for lately. I’d love to hear if you’re working towards any goals or have made any sleep/routine changes and how they’re going!

5 dial movers in my health routine

1) An updated morning routine

I used to get frustrated hearing about morning routines of successful entrepreneurs because I have small kids, a life, and ain’t got no time for a 2-hour complex morning routine. The kids used to be our alarm clock, but now that they’re older, I still sleep until the alarm goes off. I roll out of bed and am flung directly into the morning chaos until school drop-off, or on the weekends, it’s dance and soccer games. I would hear about elaborate morning meditation, journaling, and exercise routines and just feel annoyed.

Buuuuut, I realized I could shuffle around some of my favorite habits that put me in a positive and productive mindset and make them work for my life. My “morning routine” is a bit delayed now, or split into pieces throughout the day, and makes a huge difference in my stress level and my attitude.

Here are the components I include:

Morning sunlight and grounding

I know that early morning sunlight can help your circadian rhythm and enable your body to produce melatonin at the correct times, so you’re able to go to sleep more easily at night. I’d open the blinds and let sun into the house first thing, but over the past couple of months, I started stepping outside into the sun. It feels SO good and makes me feel instantly awake and like I’m ready to conquer the day.

I have to let Maisey out in the morning anyway, so instead of staying inside curled up with hoodie or blanket, I walk outside with her. I step into the grass, even if it’s wet, remove my glasses (since they are transition and blue light blockers), and look around the yard. It takes maybe three minutes, but sets the tone for the entire day. I get a little bit of sunlight on my body and in my eyes, and also get in a bit of grounding, which can be therapeutic. According to this study, “Grounding appears to improve sleep, normalize the day–night cortisol rhythm, reduce pain, reduce stress, shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic toward parasympathetic activation, increase heart rate variability, speed wound healing, and reduce blood viscosity.”

7 minutes of meditation, 10 minute of journaling

Every day, I spend 7 minutes meditation on my PEMF Go Mat (FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off). (If you need meditation strategies, I have a ton here! You can also listen to a guided meditation on YouTube, Calm, or the Peloton app.) 10 minutes sometimes feels like too long, so 7 is the perfect number for me. I listen to binaural beats on Spotify while I meditate. Afterwards, I set my timer for 10 minutes and journal, using this devotional and a goals/gratitude journal. The goals/gratitude journal is quick (5 things I’m grateful for and 10 goals I’m going to accomplish), and I spend a bit more time on the devotional. It’s a great way to check in with my goals (so I’m more likely to take action steps during the day), but also with my personal values and purpose.

Not checking social media until after I’ve finished our morning walk

This has been a tricky one, and I’m not as consistent with it, but I try to avoid checking social media until I’ve finished my morning walk with Maisey. I find that it’s just a distraction, especially when I’m trying to get the kids dressed and breakfast done, so it’s worth it for me to wait. Social media and email is a stressor for me, so when I start my day by checking my phone (usually to alerts and emails I can’t respond to until later), it just adds more to my mental load. It’s better to wait until I can respond and take action, instead of letting it hang over my head.

2) Walking every single day… unless it’s raining 😉

Walking with Maisey is one of the high points for both of us each day! We walk from 30-45 minutes, and I use this time to listen to a podcast or audiobook. She gets fresh air and exercise, and is a calmer, happier gal. It’s been raining a lot here in Tucson lately, so if it’s raining, I’ll still move my body in a gentle way to break up the workday, whether it’s a handful of Zumba songs, a Sculpt Society dance cardio round, or some mobility and stretching.

3) Going to bed earlier

I’ve had to force myself to do this, especially because I’m a night owl and would prefer watching TV and reading as long as possible. Instead, I head to bed around 10 (asleep by 10:30 or 10:45), and I’m definitely not as tired in the morning. It’s an obvious mood booster, I’m able to work harder during my workouts, and I’m more productive when I get to bed earlier.

4) Weekly meet-ups with friends and family

This is #1 for me! If you’re feeling blah, sad, uninspired, like you can’t be productive: make time fo meaningful connections that bring you joy. It can be even harder as we get older and shuffle work + kids/ busy schedules, but it’s so, so worth it. I meet up with at least one friend for coffee/juice or a workout class each week, enjoy weekly bible study, and we have weekend dinners with family and friends.

5) Avoiding alcohol

As I learn more and more about what alcohol does to my body and brain, the less I want to drink it. I still enjoy the taste of wine or a margarita (!) but I don’t crave it like I used to. I’m continuing to cut back, and have been enjoying maybe one drink per week. You can read more about my journey with alcohol here.

So tell me friends: have you made any changes in your routine lately? What’s one of your health goals right now?

xoxo

Gina

Sharing this post for friends who are considering joining Beautycounter as a consultant. It’s one of the best things I’ve done for my business, so I’d love to share more about what it entails and how to get started. 

Hi hi! How’s the morning going so far? I’m looking forward to a long weekend with Fall Break, a trip to the pumpkin patch, and a staycation at Great Wolf Lodge.

For today’s post, I wanted to share more about the Beautycounter business. This past week, I’ve had so many people reach out to me about joining as a consultant (<— I think it has a lot to do with the fact that enrollment is $20 right now!!). I don’t talk about the business opportunity too often (usually friends who read the blog will sign up, or just email me to let me know they’re interested in joining), but I know that some of you may be curious about the behind the scenes and with the $20 enrollment promo (ends on 10/17), I had to spread the news.

Here’s a post I wrote a while ago about being a Beautycounter consultant and how it’s affected my business!

I also thought it would be a good time to share this post because things are SO expensive right now, and we’re also about to head into an expensive time of year. Between the holiday events/food, family gifts, class parties, teacher gifts, in addition to increased cost of living with inflation… it’s a lot. If you’re looking for an option to make extra money on your own terms (from home!), this is an option that might work for you.

Here’s some more details to decide if it might be for you and how you can get started!

This isn’t just applicable to Beautycounter, but could be used for other network marketing or direct sales opportunities.

How To Build Your Beautycounter Business Plan

Step One

Have a call with your mentor to talk about upcoming events, how they recommend that you get started, or any initial things you need to do. For consultants on my team, I have an onboarding process that they follow, along with a few checkmark steps along the way. I also ask them about their goals! Some friends want to hit the ground running, while others are more low-key about it.  Others simply join for the 25% discount, and that’s cool, too. It’s helpful to know their goals so I can coach and support appropriately.

Step Two

Brainstorm your “why” so you can share this with others on your journey. If you’re joining Beautycounter, this might be something about how you wanted to switch to safer products (we all have an “a ha” moment), or if can even be financial. (Like, “I wanted to be able to pay for our kid to take private piano lessons” or daycare costs, etc.) I would be transparent and detailed about your “why,” and write up a post or share in conversation when someone asks you why you joined. There will be many people out there who will relate to your “why” and your story.

Step Three

Create an email list for those who might be interested in learning more about safer skincare and beauty products (with the option to opt out if they’re not interested). Send out an email sharing your “why,” your personal link to shop, and the ability to reach out with questions. I’ve found that our personal networks genuinely want to support our endeavors. If I can buy something from a friend instead of getting it at Target, I will absolutely support that friend!

Step Four

Create a launch event. This is optional, but you can host a pop up to share more about the products, you can do a text pop up, or create samples or drop-off kits for friends to try out the products. A launch event can be a great way to make a splash and let people know about what you’re doing. If you’re shy or not into that, you can order samples to share with friends and check in with them to see how they like them. 🙂

Step Five

Be consistent. Set aside even one hour each week to work on building your business. This can be something like creating an email newsletter, following up with clients, putting together sample kits, or filming a few Instagram stories with your favorite products. A lot of your friends may be watching to see if you continue to use the products before they commit to trying them out for themselves, so stick with it. A friend might think of you when they run out of moisturizer and need to try something new.

Beautycounter Consultant Benefits

Sharing safer products with those you love

Once I first started learning about what was actually in many of our skincare and beauty products in the US, I wanted to spread the word with anyone who would listen. It was SHOCKING for me to learn about all of the chemicals and endocrine disruptors are permitted for use here in the US. It honestly enraged me, and still does, and I feel thankful that I can share products with those I love that were tested for safety and don’t use 1800+ potentially harmful ingredients.

We earn 25-35% commission on our sales, in addition to potentials for bonuses. The minimum sales requirement is $750 for 6 months (including your own purchases), but if you don’t hit that, there’s no penalty. You just become a Band of Beauty member instead of a consultant.

Access to Behind the Counter

This is how we track everything, including client sales, birthdays, follow-up procedures, product credits, recent press, and can watch training videos. I LOVE Behind the Counter because there are specific action plans based on your goals. You can use it as much or as little as you need to, but everything you could ever want to know is in BTC.

Consultant discount

We get 25% off for our personal orders (I feel like this alone is worth it if you love the products!) and steeper discounts for enrollment sets, new product launches, and holiday sets.

Opportunities for bonuses and incentives

Through our Start Counting program, you have the opportunity to earn product credit and bonuses for yourself and your mentor, which increase each month. If you hit the Start Counting milestones each month, the idea is to have your business running and in full momentum when you finish the first 90 days. I hit my Start Counting milestones, and liked that it gave me goals for each month and set me up for long-term success.

The ability to create an extra income stream from home

I can’t say you’ll be a millionaire, but if you think about what an extra $50, $500, or $5,000 per month can do for you, it can be significant. I started off making enough to pay for a nice dinner each month, and now it matches or beats what I make from ad revenue from the blog. There’s lots of potential and opportunity to grow, too. Just like many things in life, you get out of it what you put into it. (The same goes for health and fitness!) Also, you do not have to be super active on social media. We have a lot of rockstars on our team who rarely use social media.

Community

I’ve been able to connect with so many amazing women all over the world, thanks to my partnership with Beautycounter. Our team is filled with inspirational driven women all cheering for each other.

We have a $20 enrollment opportunity (insane!!!) right now, so if you think it might be for you, you can check out more details here. If you’d like to join my team, we’d love to have you and I’d love to help support you along the way.

Please email me if you have any questions or leave them in the comments below!

Have a wonderful morning and I’ll see ya tomorrow with Friday Faves!

xo

Gina

Hi hi friends! How are you? How was the weekend? Ours was a good one. The weather was a dream – it felt like San Diego, plus it rained every day – and P had a soccer game. We smoked chicken for dinner, met up with friends, caught up on chores, and enjoyed relaxing as a fam. We sat on the back of the Pilot’s SUV and watched the girls run around in the rain for almost an hour.

Today’s post is a little all over the place. I didn’t take a ton of pics, but I have some random thoughts to share with ya and would love to hear what’s going on in your world, too.

Random thoughts for a Monday morning:

– We replanted for fall, and I’m so pumped for some new veggies in the garden. Usually I plant too much and certain plants crowd others, so I only did carrots, beets, and broccoli in the raised bed. In our flat garden bed, we have swiss chard, romaine, arugula, and butternut squash. I have no clue what I’m doing with the butternut squash, but I’ve found that it’s best to just plant whatever you want to learn how to plant, and you figure it out as you go.

(See those poor smashed onions in the bottom left corner? You just figure these things out along the way.)

– This thought crossed my mind during my last hot yoga class, and I was thinking about how much I enjoy hot power yoga. It feels like a hug from a workout, and while it’s still taxing and challenging, it’s simultaneously restorative and a huge treat. It made me remember the Bikram yoga days of yore, which were a start contrast in the yoga world.

I got scolded frequently. 

The first time was for drinking water before Eagle pose (don’t you dare), and for little things, like not transitioning fast enough to the savasana portions, keeping my eyes on myself (I had to look around to figure out what I was doing!), laughing during the intense breathing section (once, a friend and I got the church giggles during class) and who knows what else. The incredibly steamy and sweaty rooms were always carpeted (disgusting), smelled like hamsters, and I loved it????? I loved it! SO weird haha.

Needless to say, I’m glad the Bikram phenomenon has come and gone, for various reasons.

– We tried a new-to-us restaurant in Tucson: the Parish. We’ve heard so many great things over the years but have never made it out there. We met up with friends for a lil double date, and it was SO good. They have twists on Southern food, so we shared popcorn, hushpuppies, and the best brussels sprouts for apps, and the entrees were things like fried chicken sandwich, gumbo, I had an extremely flavorful salmon salad, and meatloaf. The drinks were also an A+. We’ll definitely go back! Check it out if you’re a Tucson local looking for something to try out.

(Also three cheers for madre and nana taking the crew to the movies while we enjoyed a night out! They saw Lyle Lyle Crocodile and raved about it. I want to see it now, too!)

– Figured out the secret to paying attention to audiobooks: I listen to them at 1.1 or 1.2 speed. I love the idea of audiobooks, especially when I’m doing chores or taking a walk, but will often get distracted. Speeding it up makes all the difference! When I listen to them at regular speed now, they sound like they’re in slow motion. If you have any audiobook recs, please send them my way! Currently sucked into 11//22/63 and have about 27 hours left. 😉

– I tried cryotherapy for the first time at Icebox Tucson. They also have multiple types of skincare and facials, red light therapy, localized cryotherapy, and compression. I was very nervous for my first experience – let’s be real, I hate being cold – but have really been wanting to try it.

They gave me a cozy robe to wear into the ice chamber, along with socks, a headband to cover my ears, gloves, and a mask to keep my face warm. When you get inside, they play a song of your choice on the noise canceling headphones, and you remove the robe for the session. It was three minutes long and I was FREEZING. Frozen. My body was like WTF is happening to me.

I didn’t know what to do with my body, so instead of shivering, I flapped my arms like a bird, which seemed to help. Thanks to the music, the three minutes went by fairly quickly, and I felt great afterwards. I immediately felt a surge of energy which stayed with me throughout the day.

After the cryotherapy, I tried out the compression booties, which felt amazing. I can absolutely see myself adding this into my routine when I want a little energy boost, or when I’ve had a particularly hard workout. Hiking season is officially back, so I’m looking forward to some long hikes coming up, in addition to the usual teaching, yoga, Peloton, and strength training rotation.

– Speaking of energy, I’m really looking forward to the 7-day Dr. Cabral detox starting one week from today. So many of you have joined in and I can’t wait to do this as a community. If you’re interested in learning more, you can sign up here with the code FITNESSISTA20 for 20% off. You can check out the IG live I did last week with Dr. Cabral answering the top questions we’ve received, too.

If you know you’re in, I would definitely order by tomorrow to ensure you have everything you need!

So tell me friends:

anyone else with intense Bikram stories to share, or any other fitness misadventures?

Have you tried cryotherapy??

Hope you have a lovely morning and I’ll see ya soon.

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today!
xo

Gina

Hi friends! Hope you’re having a wonderful morning! I’ve got a new podcast episode up today and I’m chatting with Carlee Hayes, RDN, CD all about the top nutrition struggles she sees and what to do about it.

Carlee works with Nutrisense, and I’ve used their CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) a handful of times. I’ve learned so much about how my body responds to different types of food and habits; it’s been extremely helpful and insightful. This isn’t an affiliate link, but if you’d like to try Nutrisense, you can use GINA50 for $50 off.

Here’s what we talk about in today’s episode:

– Metabolic flexibility

– Common nutrition struggles and action steps

– Easy ways to balance your blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity

– Her favorite wellness resources

and so.much.more!

Here’s a bit more about Carlee and her background:

Carlee is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and the Senior Nutrition Manager for NutriSense, a company utilizing continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to build personalized diet and lifestyle plans. NutriSense is on a mission to help anyone understand and reach their health potential, and Carlee is passionate about translating complex glucose data into actionable changes anyone can implement into their everyday lives.

You can connect with Nutrisense on IG here and Carlee can be found on LinkedIn.

Resources from this episode:

I love love love the meals from Sakara Life! Use this link and the code XOGINAH for 20% off their meal delivery and clean boutique items. This is something I do once a month as a lil treat to myself and the meals are always showstoppers.

Get 15% off Organifi with the code FITNESSISTA. I drink the green juice, red juice, gold, and Harmony! (Each day I might have something different, or have two different things. Everything I’ve tried is amazing.)

The weather is cooling down, and I’m still obsessed with my sauna blanket. It feels even BETTER when it’s chilly outside and you can use the code FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off! This is one of my favorite ways to relax and sweat it out. I find that it energizes me, helps with aches and pains, I sleep better on the days I use this, and it makes my skin glow. Link to check it out here. You can also use my discount for the PEMF Go Mat, which I use every day!

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission.

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I just finished Level 1 and have started Level 2. I highly recommend it! You can check out my initial thoughts on IHP here!

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please be sure to subscribe, and leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. 

xo

Sharing a September book recap and if I’d recommend adding these to your TBR list! 

Hi Hi friends! How’s the week treating ya? I hope you’re having a great one so far. I’m here working on SEO all day – one of my least favorite parts about being a blogger. Blahhhhh- and looking forward to a hot yoga class this afternoon.

For today’s post, I’m sharing a recap of the books I’ve read in September and if I’d recommend adding these to your list. I always love to hear about your book picks, so please share what you’re reading in the comments section. 🙂

September Book Recap

All Things New

I was unsure about adding this to the recap because obviously we don’t all have the same beliefs, and I never want anyone to feel isolated or left out. One of my favorite things about having ya’ll as virtual BFFs is the fact that we have a ton in common, and probably some differences, too. It makes life more enjoyable and exciting to be surrounded by various perspectives and viewpoints.

In the end, I wanted to add it because it’s been a part of my life lately, and I’m sure many of you would enjoy hearing about this rec.

I’ve been going through this Bible study on 2 Corinthians for the past month and a half and have already learned so much from it. As someone who always felt intimidated by reading the Bible, this has been a great introduction to it, especially since I’m able to study and discuss with such a lovely and brilliantly intelligent group of ladies. We meet weekly and chat about what we’ve learned, and the conversations have been so meaningful for me.

If you’ve been wanting to read the Bible, I highly recommend doing a study like this as a way to gain more knowledge and understanding. I feel like I’m actually learning instead of simply reading passages, and this way, I’m more easily able to apply these principles to my life. We’ll finish this study early next month and cap it off with a celebratory lunch before starting our next study. 🙂

From Amazon:

The city of ancient Corinth was much like our own modern-day cities: a melting pot of electrifying cultural experiences to be had, along with the myriad pitfalls of spiritual depravity. Still, Paul wrote to the church of God in Corinth. Meaning God’s church is meant to thrive in any city and every circumstance in which we find ourselves. Paul’s letter is as timely as ever. Over 8 sessions, Kelly Minter will lead you through the Letter of 2 Corinthians, exploring the anchoring truths of bearing treasures in jars of clay, meeting Christ through a pressing thorn, opening wide your heart in the midst of hurtful relationships, and what it means to embrace the lost and lonely as ministers of the new covenant. Each of us has a message to proclaim and live by: Because of Jesus the old has gone, the new has come.

I’m Glad My Mom Died

What a turn in topics, eh?

TBH, the title of this book kept me from wanting to read it, despite the overwhelming positive reviews. “She’s GLAD her mom died?” It’s… a lot.

But, this has ended up being one of the best books I’ve read (listened to this one on Audible and highly recommend) in a long time. It’s profound, heartbreaking, optimistic, hilarious, and beautifully written. Just as a trigger warning, it does include some heavy topics like mental and physical abuse, and eating disorders. While these are prevalent themes in the book, it wasn’t overwhelmingly graphic to read. 10/10 would recommend.

From Amazon:

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships.

These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

November 9

I’ve learned the Colleen Hoover is hit or miss for me… and this one was a miss. I just didn’t get as wrapped into the plot, which had a lot of potential. Her writing often feels lackluster and doesn’t allow me to become truly invested in all of the characters she creates. 3/10.

From Amazon:

Beloved number-one New York Times best-selling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.
Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move.

Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in LA together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon – and simultaneously his novel – be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan

I ordered this book after Lisa Moskovitz, RD was a guest on the podcast. I enjoyed hearing about her philosophy and wanted to see what her eating plan guidelines included, especially since I’m often looking for new recs to share with clients. This one is AMAZING. It’s simple enough for beginners to follow, but also will encourage more experienced macro trackers to approach it in a new way.

You can check it out here and use the code CORE20 for a discount. (Not affiliate, just happy to spread the word.)

What did you read in September?

What’s next on your TBR list?

xoxo

Gina

Hi friends! Happy weekend! What do you have going on? We have an event for the girls’ school and I’m looking forward to teaching barre and hopefully catching a hike. The weather has been a dream this week! I’d love to hear what you’re up to. I also wanted to add a little note that I’m praying for safety for my friends in Hurricane Ian’s path. <3

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

A random note: I ended up canceling our fall break trip to NYC. We have a lot of reasons for deciding to postpone the trip, but decided we’d rather do a Disney cruise in the new year instead. When I told the kids, they were SO pumped, so I know we made the right choice! I’m also kind of glad that fall break will be more low-key, especially since we’re heading into the Pilot’s birthday, P’s birthday, Halloween, my birthday and a wedding, Thanksgiving through the New Year into Liv’s birthday. It’s all fun stuff – my fave time of year- but it can definitely be a lot. Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

Pic from our last cruise!

Friday Faves 9.30

Read, watch, listen:

I loved reading about these happy moments.

Five meditation retreat practices to try at home.

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s podcast episode about why diets don’t work.

If you’re looking to start a daily journal practice, check out this 5-minute journal. I’m ordering one to use in 2023.

Fitness + good eats:

Thai peanut chicken thighs.

Apple cider donut loaf CAKE?! I’m in.

Full fall fitness plan here!

Family dinner at Calle Tepa is always a winner. I feel like it’s one of the most underrated Mexican spots in Tucson; it’s been a go-to for years.

Fashion + beauty:

If you’ve been wanting to take advantage of the 30% off for new Beautycounter clients, it ends tonight! The discount will go back down to 20% on the 1st. Click here and use the code CLEANFORALL30. I highly recommend the All Bright C serum, AHA mask, color intense lipstick, charcoal mask, and supreme cream.

Got these Chelsea boots on sale at Nordstrom. I think they’ll be super cute with skirts, dresses, and leggings. (Still not sure how I feel about these with jeans…I’m not on board with the wide leg/baggy trend.)

(Dress is here in a different print)

I FINALLY created my Amazon storefront. I’m going to be adding in goodies this weekend – fashion, fitness, and for the kids is already available – and will also post more holiday gift ideas here. Check it out!

Just for kicks:

 

Happy Friday, friends!

xoxo

Gina

Hi hi! Happy Monday! Thank you so much to those of you who let me know you were missing the old school blogging recaps, so I’m bringing them back. It won’t be every day, but will definitely be scattered more frequently on the blog. Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with me. It’s my goal to create a blog that you want to read (that I also enjoy writing). I always appreciate your perspective, and take your thoughts and comments to heart.

It was a packed and fun-filled weekend around here. Friday afternoon, I met up with some friends to get everything ready for our school auction, and headed straight from that to a meeting with the dance moms to plan out Trunk or Treat. We have a lot to look forward to this month!

(I saw this tree at Hobby Lobby and didn’t end up buying it because it’s huge and tacky, but also SO perfect.)

We had Greek bowls for dinner, which is one of our frequent staples.

It’s grilled chicken, rice, hummus, cucumbers, olives, grape leaves, salad, and tzatziki bread. I totally forgot to add falafel to this meal, which takes it over the top. (I just air fry the frozen falafel from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.) The kids always go wild for this one – they like crafting their own bowls- so I cling tightly to the recipes they genuinely love. (They’re not picky, but are definitely vocal about which meals they like more than others.)

Saturday morning, we cheered for P at her soccer game, dropped Liv at dance, and I headed back to the auction venue to help set up decorations and last-minute to-dos. I look forward to our school’s auction each year, especially because our community is truly amazing. The kids SO lovely and kind, their families are incredible, and the teachers are the best of the best.

We’ve been able to make friends through our school that have become like family, and I feel blessed that after some school hunting, we’ve certainly found the right spot. (We switched schools two months before the world shut down, so we didn’t get to have a true experience until last year!)

Auction attire:

(Dress is here and world to the world: SIZE UP. I didn’t read reviews as carefully as I should have and welp, it was a little painful to breathe.)

Sunday morning, we were all moving slowly, so we took it easy. I made cinnamon rolls with chicken sausage and eggs for breakfast and I filmed some workout tutorials for a 1:1 client.

We also took a little trip to Spirit Halloween and brought all of our decorations out of storage. I’ll share a pic of the finished product in Friday Faves. The older the more I’m leaning into “cute Halloween” vs. “scary/gory Halloween.” 

We had family movie night with a themed cheese board (totally got the idea from this post!) to go along with it.

This week, I’m really looking forward to a lil Sakara delivery, some podcast interviews, and planning the Pilot and P’s birthday parties. I hope your morning is off to a great start and I’ll see ya soon!

Thank you for checking in on the blog today <3

xoxo

Gina