Melt Away May

Melt Away May Invite

ICE CREAM!!!! No, I am not running an ice cream eating challenge group (although that might be pretty fun šŸ˜‰ ) ā€¦

We all like ice cream. You can say you donā€™t, but I know you doā€¦or maybe you are just weird šŸ˜‰ No one wants to give up these kinds of things for life. And we donā€™t have to. Your journey toward health and fitness does not mean you have to eat food that tastes like cardboard, be hungry all the time, or work out like a maniac for hours and hours each day. To me that doesnā€™t sound fun or healthy. And neither does depriving yourself of the finer things in lifeā€¦like said ice cream.

Just because I love ice cream doesnā€™t mean I need to eat it every day. But it also doesnā€™t mean I canā€™t have it and still live a happy and healthy lifestyle. In fact, that happy factor goes right up after a delicious bite! Iā€™m a firm believer that if you are fueling your body with the right whole foods, vitamins, and nutrients 80% of the time, then you should absolutely enjoy that ice cream (or pizza, or chocolate, or whatever you please)ā€¦the other 20%…and you should enjoy it guilt-free! Enjoying these things can be satisfying and it can also curb that urge to go on a super binge down the road.

My post-partum health and fitness journey has been different than any other journey I have had previously because while I have always been an athleteā€¦I never really thought too much about what I was eating. I liked to think that I was eating healthy most of the time, but I never REALLY paid a super amount of attention. After baby #2, I really dialed into my nutrition, paid attention to what I was eating and learned a lot about my habits from doing the 21 Day Fix program. It made me think about healthy habits for a lifestyle rather than just a fad diet.

In addition, the workouts were an awesome variety that really targeted the entire body each week. Previously I was a soccer player, basketball player, a runner, etcā€¦I had natural results because I was so active every day with 2 hour practices or hour long runs. After baby #2, 2 hour practices on the soccer field were definitely no longer practical! With this program I could get a 30 minute workout in each day without ever leaving the houseā€¦and I got a total body workout that produced amazing resultsā€¦while still allowing me to enjoy life with those treats J

While I do still sometimes crave that game on the soccer field…with my current lifestyle and hanging out with my little guys on a daily basisā€¦this is how I am able to get it doneā€¦and how I am able to get results. I have to say I am probably the HEALTHIEST I have been in my entire life. All it took was:

*Healthy Meals & a Realistic Outlook on Nutrition

*30 Min Daily Workouts

*Drinking a daily dose of dense nutrition each day

*Checking into a group full of positive, inspiring individuals that keep me accountable each day

*Surrounding myself with positive ā€œco-workersā€ who build me up and make me a better person, athlete, mom, and businesswoman.

These days everyone has a full, busy lifeā€¦but it doesnā€™t mean we donā€™t have time for the things that matter. And our health definitely matters. Itā€™s all about what we choose to do with that time. You deserve that time for yourself. YOU MATTER!!!

I am starting my next Challenge Group up on May 2nd, and would love to have you MELT AWAY MAY with me! Comment below with ā€œI want to Melt Away May!ā€ and the best way to contact you if you want to learn more information or need help choosing a program to fit your needs, likes, and goals. This summer I am excited to finally feel confident in a bikini while enjoying that ice cream guilt-free! Whoā€™s with me? LETā€™S DO THIS!

Hope you are all having a great day! We are in Maryland this week spending some extra time with family while Nico is on Spring Break from school and the hubby is on a work trip in Austin. Make it a great one all!

XO,

Gina

Transformation Tuesday: Meet Amy

Amy Results Photos

Meet Amy!

Amy is a fellow Brooklyn Mama who I met when both of our oldest sons were born. We have known each other for the past two+ years, and our sons are now going to preschool together. Our younger sons are also around the same age, and it has been so nice to have a friend in the neighborhood who understands what life is like with two boys and going through everything together at the same time!

I was so excited when Amy reached out about joining my next 21 Day Fix group, and with her passion for fitness, I knew she would love it and do fantastic. She has worked so hard, and her results are proof that hard work pays off.

So without future ado…let me introduce Amy!!!

 

P + P:Ā Tell us about yourself (where you live, family, hobbies, interests, anything else that you would like to include about yourself)

Amy: My family of 4 lives in Kensington, Brooklyn. Itā€™s a small neighborhood by the bottom of Prospect Park. My husband and I have two boys (2 years old and 7 months old). Iā€™m 41. I like to put my age out there. I feel good about where I am in my life and the things Iā€™ve accomplished.

Iā€™ve lived in NYC for 17 years. Initially, I worked in theater, mostly in PR and marketing. I decided to leave my desk jobs and go to beauty school. I started at Arrojo Studio as an assistant 11 years ago and worked my way up to being a Master Colorist/Texture Specialist. I work for an industry leader and have had the opportunity to travel, teach and grow with the company. My work is my passion and I love being creative and helping people look and feel their best. Thatā€™s my day job.

My other full time job (my day and night job), is being a mom to my boys. When Iā€™m not at the salon, Iā€™m with my sons. I love the balance of doing both jobs.

 

P + P: What is your fitness background?

Amy: I lost 35 pounds my senior year of high school and started managing my diet and exercising. At that point, I was hooked and havenā€™t lost my motivation since. I went to my collegeā€™s gym between classes, joined a gym during my first internship and again when I moved to New York. I always made fitness a priority. I took spinning classes, African dance, pilates and even worked out with personal trainers. One trainer was a friend and I worked out with her for over a year. I have always loved weight lifting and cross training. From her, I learned I had to leave my comfort zone to get results. If I thought I could only do 10 pushups, she made me do 15.

 

P + P:Ā Why did you decide to try the 21 Day Fix?

Amy: Even though I have always been dedicated to working out, Iā€™ve always carried extra weight on my frame. The weight lifting probably made me look even heavier.

I gained 36 pounds carrying my first son. Our birthdays are two days apart and I was determined to get back in shape for my 40 birthday and his 1st. I did it, and I felt great even though I was already pregnant again. I never got to enjoy my fit self because I gained 30 pounds carrying my second son. When he was 4 months old, I saw a picture of Gina after she completed her first round of the 21 Day Fix and realized I wasnā€™t nursing my way into skinny jeans.Ā Ā  I said to my husband, ā€œI just want to lose 4 pounds. Thatā€™s it and Iā€™ll be happy.ā€

I contacted Gina, bought the 21 Day Fix program and Shakeology and joined her challenge group. I lost 6 pounds the first round.

Since then, Iā€™ve completed 2 more fitness challenges and Iā€™ve lost another 6 pounds (for a total of 12 pounds) and have my muscle and definition back.

 

P + P:Ā Ā What about the program worked for you? What did you like about it?Ā 

Amy: The program is easy to follow. The color coded containers make sense and I donā€™t feel limited since there are a huge list of food I can choose from. I also started cooking which has been a win for the whole family.

I love the 30 minute workouts. Itā€™s a manageable amount of time when Iā€™m home with my kids. I donā€™t have to go to a gym to get in shape. I have a yoga mat and weights at home and the 21 Day Fix workout videos make me feel like Iā€™m part of the class. The first time I did a video I could barely make it through, now Iā€™m taking on the 21 Day EXTREME workout for my next round.

 

P + P:Ā What was tough or challenging for you? (particular workouts? sticking to nutrition? anything else?)

Amy: The controlled portion sizes are my biggest challenge. I had a decent diet before: No processed foods but I ate out a lot, Iā€™d order in, sometimes have a beer with dinner and probably ate twice the portion than I needed.

The clean eating came easily, but eating smaller amounts were very difficult. I found it hard to resist snacks, especially my kidā€™s snacks. Why are bunny crackers so appealing?

 

P + P:Ā 12 poundsĀ and 6 inches from yourĀ waist is an incredible accomplishment! How did you stay motivated for thoseĀ 63 days?

Amy: When I started, I wanted to fit back into my old clothes and feel better. After the first round, I looked so different I wanted to keep going. I wanted to look good, but the potential for looking GREAT was so close.

Friends and co-workers started noticing and everyone was enthusiastic and supportive. The 21 Day Fix became fun, like a fitness game.

 

P + P:Ā How do you feel today and what are your goals moving forward?Ā 

Amy: I feel completely different than I did before I started the program. Iā€™m fit, feel healthy and I have energy again. The kind of energy I use to have before having kids. At 41, I never thought that was possible. I assumed people just get more tired as they get older but thatā€™s just not true. Doing this program showed me that if I want it, I can make it happen. I put in the effort and I got the result.

Another thing that still surprises me is how much support I am receiving on my health and fitness journey. My husband, friends and co-workers are cheering for me and I inspired them to change themselves. Iā€™ve learned how gratifying it is to lead others as they get fit. Itā€™s the ultimate way to pay it forward and thatā€™s why I became a coach.

 

I am so incredibly proud of Amy for her hard work and dedication. As a brand new coach, she has already inspired 9 new people to start their own fitness journey. It’s clear that whatever challenge Amy takes on in life, she goes at it full-on…whether it’s as a Master Colorist/Texture Specialist, a Mama of two, or a Fitness Coach, Amy does it well and with great success! Thank you so much, Amy, for sharing your story here with us!

Hope you are all having a great week so far. It’s been unusually nice outside for February after we just had a major snow storm, but I’m certainly not complaining!!!

XO,

Gina

Namaste November

NAMASTE NOVEMBE

Happy Monday!!!

Itā€™s FREE Challenge Group time!!! And this month, I am going to mix things up a bit with a NAMASTE NOVEMBER CHALLENGE!

Many of us have a LOT of stress coming up with the holidaysā€¦lots of parties to prep and plan for, lots of unhealthy comfort foods at every event, holiday shopping, decorating, you name it. I wanted to take this next week prior to all the craziness to just DECOMPRESS and CHILL OUT a bit.

Join me starting November 16th for a YOGA inspired challenge where we will come together for some low impact exercise, inspiration, healthy festive recipes, and tips for how to carve out time for physical and mental wellness during the chaos of the holiday season.

If this sounds like something you would enjoy or even if this is something brand new and outside the box for you, I would love to include you! Simply comment below with your e-mail addressĀ or e-mail me at gina.notes26@gmail.com. Itā€™s going to be a fun week and will hopefully allow us to enter the holiday season this year with a little less crazy.

Namaste!

XO,

Gina

Back to School – Back to Basics Challenge

Back to School Back to Basics Invite

As hard as it is to believe, the summer is almost over, and itā€™s back to school time soon (or back to working hard for many of us). Vacation mode is nearing a close, and itā€™s time to get back to business and back to the basics.

Starting with our health and fitness! Had one too many ice cream cones this past August? I know I did. (Iā€™m blaming the baby!) Shrugged off that last morning run because of the heat? Whew! I donā€™t blame you!

Letā€™s start FRESH in September!

If the kids are heading to back school, maybe itā€™s time for mom to spend that extra time to devote to herself? If you are ending travel plans and getting back into the grind at work, maybe itā€™s the perfect time to get into a better health and fitness routine?

Starting Tuesday September 8th, I am going to be hosting both a 21 Day Fix Challenge & a Mixed Program Group Challenge to get back into gear! It begins the day after Labor Day Weekend ends, which is perfect timing after all the celebrations and boozing I know many of you will partake in. Hey, and maybe even I will too if this baby gets here in time! šŸ˜‰ Haha.

It will be perfect timing to kick off the fall season and feel healthy again!

The Challenge will include:
-A DVD Fitness Program of Your Choice (which I will help you to choose based on your likes/goals/needs) ā€“ most programs are 30 min per day!
-Nutrition Plan
-30 Meals of Shakeology (which is a super healthy drink packed with vitamins, nutrients, and super foods)
-A Spot in my Monthly Health & Fitness Support Group
-Personal Coaching (as much motivation as you need)
-30 Day Trial of Beachbody on Demand (where you can stream workouts via wifi and try out other programs)

Whoā€™s with me?

COMMENT below with your e-mail address or e-mail me at gina.notes26 {at} gmail.com if you would like to chat more!

Let’s make it a great week everyone! šŸ™‚

XO,

Gina

Bikini Body Boot Camp

Bikini Body Bootcamp Invite Image

Happy Tuesday dahhhhhlings!!

Itā€™s FREE Challenge Group time!!!

***Next Monday, 5/18, I’m hosting a free, 5-DAY BIKINI BODY BOOT CAMP***

Spend the week prepping for summer’s unofficial kick-off, Memorial Day Weekend!! We’ll focus on your core with a “crunchless” ab circuit. Then we’ll maximize those results in the kitchen with some “Bikini Bites” or ideas for healthy snacks + recipes. Get ready to ROCK your swimsuit + most importantly, feel great!!

COMMENT below with your e-email if you would like to be added to the group! You can also email me at gina.notes26 {at} gmail.com. Hope to see YOU + your beautiful bod next week. <3

XO,

Gina

February Fitness Challenge

phonto

Happy Tuesday everyone!

As January comes to a close, many of us have already started falling off those New Year Resolutions. Ā Need a little boost?

If this lil’ guy can do it, so can YOU!

Spots are NOW OPENING for my February Fitness Challenge!

As I mentioned in my last “Lately” post, I have decided to take the plunge as a Beachbody fitness coach. Ā While partaking in my own workout this past month, I have also been co-hosting as an apprentice coach in a January challenge group and learning the ropes.

So what does this mean?

Basically, it’s a month-long challenge focused on your fitness goals. Ā I will post daily motivation, food, and fitness ideas. Ā It can be tough to get motivated on your own, so having a group to keep you accountable has been my key to success!

I also offer one-on-one support to all of my challengers and help you choose the best program for your goals and budget.

Start Date: FEBRUARY 2

Where: Private Facebook Group

For more info you can e-mail me at gina {dot} notes26 {at} gmail {dot} com or comment below with your e-mail, and I will send you more details!

I have to say, I am happy to have my workout on DVD today with all this snow outside! Ā Although I do plan on romping around a bit later this afternoon with the little guy.

Make it a good one everybody!

XO,

Gina