How to Make and Flavor Kombucha at Home

Sharing tips on how to make and flavor your own kombucha at home!

Hi friends! Hope you’re having a lovely morning! This week is a bit bonkers and we’re enjoying time with some friends who are here from Florida! I’ll be back on Friday with some faves, but in the meantime, here’s a post from the archives. If you’re curious about making your own kombucha at home, here’s the full how-to!

So, it FINALLY HAPPENED.

After about a year (maybe a little longer?) of inconsistently making kombucha at home, I finally made some that tastes even better than store-bought stuff.

Orange Cranberry Ginger Homemade Kombucha

It was getting really close, and I was happy with the flavor combos I’d tried, but it was always a little too tangy, too sweet, not fizzy enough, etc.

After quite a bit of experimentation, I got the result I’d been searching for; it was a glorious moment indeed. A warm embrace was shared with the kombucha jar before holding the scoby in the air like a baby Simba while singing a celebratory chant.

(Ok, just in my mind.)

Tips on How to Make Kombucha at Home

-I followed the steps in this post, but will outline them again, updated with the current techniques.

1) The quality of the scoby (the starter bacteria that looks like a flat, opaque gummy disk) makes all the difference in the world. I got an awesome scoby from Amazon, but I’ve also ordered a dud that ended up molding. (A little tidbit about mold: a lot of people are rightfully fearful about making moldy or bad kombucha. If the batch is bad, it’s an obvious thing. You will know it’s bad just by looking at it. The scoby will have blue or greenish patches on it, and well, it will look like mold. Don’t drink it; throw it away to start over.) The scoby I picked up from the farmer’s market in Ocean Beach is a BEAST.

(I got a bottle from the farmer’s market, filled with scoby strands and starter tea. To say I was skeptical would be an understatement. Shame on me.)

I’ve made multiple batches with said amazing scoby and also gave one to Whitney; she now has a full-up scoby hotel.

I like ‘em thick.

Scoby handling guidelines: always make sure your hands, tools, container, anything that comes in contact with the scoby, are fully sanitized. Do not touch the scoby (or stir your kombucha) with anything metal; it can destroy it. Use wood or plastic tools instead.

2) After you have your scoby, make your starter tea (black and green tea with NO added essential oils work well). I like the Newman’s Own organic black tea. 8-10 cups of water to 8-10 bags of tea (equal water:tea ratio). After the water comes up to a boil, I add the tea bags, remove from the heat and stir in one cup of organic sugar. Let the tea cool completely to room temperature before straining it and pouring into your kombucha jar (this is a perfect one).

3) Next, you’ll add about 2 cups of starter liquid (or whatever came with your scoby), and gently place the scoby on top. If the scoby and tea are the exact same temperature, it will float beautifully to the top. If it sinks to the bottom, NBD. Just let it swim around and a new scoby will grow on top.

4) Cover it with cheesecloth or a paper towel (covered to protect, but with something that will enable it to breathe) and secure with an elastic band before placing in a dark cabinet to ferment. Avoid looking at it while it’s fermenting, and start checking the taste of the mixture in about a week. This is where you’ll decide how tangy or sweet you like it.

Dip a clean plastic spoon into the ‘buch and give it a taste. If it’s to your liking, you’re ready for a second ferment! If it’s too sweet, give it a couple more days to become more tangy/acidic. If it’s too tangy, move onto the next step (flavoring and second fermentation) and add some extra fruit juice.

The duration for your kombucha fermentation will vary based on your climate and taste preferences. In hot Tucson, it was ready in about a week. In cooler weather, it could take up to two weeks. Be patient, young grasshopper.

5) When you’re ready for your second fermentation, this is the fun part: flavoring it! Get another jar or two (that has a flip lid, like these ones), or some Mason jars for the second round fermentation + flavoring the mixture.

Some things that work well to flavor:

-Fruit juice (apple, berry, orange)

-Berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)

-Herbs (lavender, dried ginger, mint)

Have fun experimenting!

To each jar or bottle, add some juice, herbs (if you’d like) and (this is KEY) some dried fruit (like dried cranberries or raisins). The sugar in the dried fruit will continue to feed the bacteria, and will also make the kombucha fizzy. Another thing that helps will fizz factor: dried ginger. This stuff is particularly awesome; a little (like a hefty pinch for each Mason jar) goes a long way. Pour the kombucha into each jar or bottle, but be sure to leave at least 2 cups of kombucha in the original jar to use as your “starter tea” for the next batch.

6) Seal the flavored kombucha and place back in the pantry (in a dark, temperate spot) for 2-3 days. 

7) Next, you’ll transfer the jars/bottles from the pantry to the fridge to chill and enjoy! (if you used any “whole” fruits, herbs or berries, strain the mixture before sealing again to place in the fridge.

So what do you do with the old kombucha bottle (which now has the old “Mother” scoby in it + the new layer “baby” scoby growing on top)? You separate the baby from the mother (yes, this involves touching it with your hands and cringing as you peel the slimy layers apart). The baby scoby can now venture on its own into the world to make its own kombucha (so you can have two batches growing at once). Or even better: put it in a baggie with some starter tea and gift to a friend! The gift that keeps on giving haha.

A little tip: I only use one scoby for a max of two batches of kombucha, and then will switch over to the baby scoby. They become weaker with each batch, so it’s good to switch to a new scoby after a couple of rounds.

Hope this helped those of you who were considering making your own kombucha!

Kombucha: yay or nay? Have you ever made kombucha at home? Anything unique that you like to make or ferment? I would love to experiment with homemade ghee or goat cheese!

Hope you have a lovely night <3

xoxo

Gina

Try these kombucha cocktails!

More adventures in fermentation:

Homemade sauerkimchi

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The best dairy-free broccoli salad

Sharing a recipe for the best dairy-free broccoli salad. This is the perfect side dish for dinners, delicious leftovers for lunch, and an awesome healthy summer BBQ or potluck side dish.

Hey friends! How’s the day going so far? We’re back in town after a trip to Phoenix for Nationals, and have a mountain of laundry + have some virtual 1:1 appointments.

For today’s post, I thought I’d share a summer side dish recipe! Whenever we have friends over during the summer, finding recipes for the *fun* stuff like appetizers and desserts is always super easy. I always like to make sure we have some kind of salad or vegetable, and am always looking for new favorites. Mia recently shared her favorite broccoli salad recipe with me and I knew I had to post it here on the blog! It lasted about 15 minutes in our house.

I accidentally found out that the girls love raw broccoli when we were low on groceries and I was running out of options while packing their lunch + snacks for school. I’ll typically roast broccoli with dinner and they tend to be pretty meh about it. I needed one more spot to fill in their lunch bento boxes, so I added some raw chopped broccoli. When I picked them up, they both said how much they loved the broccoli in their lunch, and I’ve been adding it ever since. This broccoli salad was a HUGE hit in our house – we each had a bowl and it was gone.

Broccoli salad is a great source of fiber and vitamins. It’s also dairy-free, and includes blanched broccoli, which still has a crunch, but can be easier to digest than raw. You simply mix all of the ingredients into a bowl and enjoy! It’s also a versatile recipe; feel free to customize it as you like. You can swap out the almonds for another type of nut, or use a different type of dried fruit (like dried cranberries or raisins) instead of the dates. Just make sure that you don’t skip the celery seed, as it gives it a unique flavor and crunch.

The best dairy-free broccoli salad

Ingredients

1 head of broccoli (or a 12 oz bag of pre cut florets)

Avocado oil mayo (Chosen foods, Sir Kensington or homemade. I like to make my own, or order Sir Kensington from Thrive Market)

Maple syrup (or honey) for a little bit of sweetness

Celery seed – don’t omit this ingredient!

Salt & pepper, to taste

Onion powder

Red onion

Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar

Toasted, sliced almonds or pecans (you can also use walnuts, sunflower seeds or cashews)

Chopped dates

Bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped, optional (I used turkey bacon and it was SO good)

Instructions

Step One

Chop the broccoli into florets. Fill a 2 qt saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Salt the water and drop in the raw broccoli florets into the pot. Set a timer for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Set next to the stove.  When the timer ends, skim the broccoli from the hot water and submerge into the ice bath.  Let stand in the ice bath for 5 minutes.

Step Two

Remove broccoli from the ice bath and allow it to drain on paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth.

Step Three

In a large bowl, combine mayo, maple syrup, celery seed, salt, black pepper, onion powder, chopped onion, and vinegar.  Whisk to combine.

Step Four

Add broccoli and stir to coat completely. Add toasted, sliced almonds and chopped dates. Next, add the optional bacon if you’re using bacon.

Step Five

Chill the salad until ready to serve. Can be made up to 4 hours before serving!

*Tip: to make this a fully vegan broccoli salad, use Vegan mayo and skip the bacon. I love serving this with some protein, like grilled chicken or fish.

How long is broccoli salad good in the fridge?

If you use blanched broccoli, which can be easier to digest than raw broccoli, it will keep for one day. If you choose to use raw (which absolutely works with this recipe!), it will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Here is the full recipe:

Print

The best dairy-free broccoli salad

Print Recipe

Cool and crispy salad that is perfect to pair with any protein. This salad is also easier to digest thanks to the blanched broccoli.  Very versatile and easy to customize! Keep it low-carb by omitting the dried fruit or substitute raisins or diced apples for the dates. This dairy-free broccoli salad is the perfect summer side dish!

• Author: Gina Harney // The Fitnessista
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 head of broccoli, chopped into florets (or a 12 oz bag of pre cut florets)

½ cup avocado oil mayo (chosen foods, sir kensington or homemade) 

1 tbsp maple syrup (or honey)

1 tsp celery seed

Salt & pepper, to taste

2 tsp onion powder

¼ cup red onion, finely minced

¼ cup apple cider or red wine vinegar

⅓ cup toasted, sliced almonds or pecans

¼ cup chopped dates

3 slices of bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped, optional

Instructions

1. Fill a 2 qt saucepan with water and bring to a boil.  Salt the water and drop in the raw broccoli florets.  Set a timer for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Set next to the stove.  When the timer ends, skim the broccoli from the hot water and submerge into the ice bath.  Let stand in the ice bath for 5 minutes.
2. Remove broccoli from the ice bath and allow it to drain on paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth.
3. In a large bowl, combine mayo, maple syrup, celery seed, salt, black pepper, onion powder, chopped onion, and vinegar.  Whisk to combine.
4. Add broccoli and stir to coat completely.
5. Add toasted, sliced almonds and chopped dates. Bacon, optional. 
6. Chill the salad until ready to serve. Can be made up to 4 hours before serving.  

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @fitnessista on Instagram

The girls and I absolutely LOVED this one. If you’re looking for a delicious summer side dish, definitely give it a whirl!

So tell me, friends: what are some of your favorite summer recipes? Please link it up in the comments below!

xo

Gina

More summer recipes:

S’mores in a jar with vegan chocolate mousse

Healthy summer party and grilling recipes

Vegan artichoke dip

Berry crumble in a jar

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Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday! What’s going on this weekend? We’re off to Liv’s dance Nationals competition (so excited) and spending the rest of the weekend hanging out with friends. Our dance team has worked so hard all year, so I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing the dances one more time and celebrating the end of such a wonderful season. I’d love to hear what you have going on!

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my 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.

Friday Faves

Staycation at Tanque Verde Ranch

Last weekend, we had a little Father’s Day staycation at Tanque Verde Ranch. Last time we stayed on property, I was pregnant with P! We’ve gone back many times to enjoy their Saturday night Cowboy Cookout. I highly recommend it if you’re visiting Tucson! We wanted to stay for the weekend and take advantage of the extra activities, like horseback riding, archery, and fishing.

The girls shocked the instructor with their perfect archery form:

(all of the practice with P’s toy bow and arrow has really paid off, let me tell ya)

and after archery, we headed to Barnyard for dinner before seeing a family of javelinas right outside our hotel casita! Fun trivia: a group of javelina is called a squadron.

Saturday morning, we were up bright and early for horseback riding. The girls take lessons, but the Pilot and I hadn’t been on a horse in years. (We always joke that we’re a little bit jealous while we watch their horse lessons.) It was SO much fun. We had a private lesson for the four of us in the arena, and took turns doing barrel turns and trotting around the arena.

After horses, we went fishing on the property lake (it’s catch and release and we all cheered when P caught an enormous bass lol) and then went swimming. Our friends met us for the Cowboy Cookout dinner, which was unfortunately moved inside due to rain, but we still had a blast.

If you’re visiting Tucson, I highly recommend checking it out! The activities are incredible (the kids are still talking about it and can’t wait to go back) and we also LOVE the food. The breakfast and lunch buffets were fantastic.

Read, watch, listen:

If you haven’t read Book Lovers already, I finished it last night… and WHEW. It was everything I look for in a summer read, with quirky/witty banter, romance/intrigue, and breezy to blast through before bed. What are you reading this summer?

A low-key summer checklist.

Check out this week’s podcast episode here.

Effects of alcohol, additives in wine, and wine sensitivities.

The power of reframing.

More reasons to work on minimizing stress.

Fashion + beauty:

This has been one of my favorite masks for years. I always pack it in my makeup bag when we travel to rehydrate my skin. You can order it on Thrive Market here (just search, “rose mask”). It smells gorgeous and has tons of extra serum in the pack, which I rub on my neck, chest, and hands.

My friends at Hylete sent over some new workout goodies, and these are my new favorite athletic shorts. The fabric is dreamy soft and I love the color. They also sent this sports bra and this tank! I haven’t tried their workout clothes in a couple of years, and feel like the quality used to be excellent and has skyrocketed to the next level. Soft, luxe, and fits perfectly (true to size).

Fitness + good eats:

The Pilot got a Trager for Father’s Day (after doing quite a bit of research, we decided to get the Ironwood 65) and we’re already reaping the benefits of this magical creation. He’s made brisket (ughhhh so good) and yesterday, I did a whole smoked chicken. (My first time using it and it was SO easy and by far, the best chicken we’ve ever made.)

I can already tell it’s going to be one of our most-loved cooking essentials. If you have any favorite Traeger recipes, please send them my way!

Met up with a friend yesterday to try out the Pure Mangada at Pure Love Juice. It has mango, lemon, coconut water, chamoy, salt, and cayenne. It was EVERYTHING.

The Sakara probiotics. They have digestive enzymes and I’ve been using them to incorporate small amounts of dairy back into my life. I haven’t had any stomach issues and my skin isn’t breaking out, so I’m calling it a huge win. You can use XOGINAH for 20% off the Sakara site. The meals are so fresh and vibrant; highly recommend if you’re looking for some convenient and healthy eats.

Summer Shape Up is coming July 11! Get your spot here and join us for two weeks of fitness fun, new workouts, and giveaways. Here are all of the details (totally free).

Have a wonderful weekend, friends! Thanks for stopping by the blog today. 🙂

xo

Gina

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106: HRV and hacking your routine with Stevie Smith MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN

Hi friends! I’m so excited to have Stevie Smith, a Registered Dietitian who works with InsideTracker, on the show today! This show isn’t sponsored, but you can use my link to get 20% off at InsideTracker here and read about my experience here! I’m so excited to re-test soon and see how my numbers have changed.

Here’s what we talk about:

– The most common biomarkers that people need to improve through their Inside Tracker results

– How can athletes and those who are more interested in finetuning their nutrition use their results

– What types of recommendations and analysis she provides for athlete clients

– How recommendations differ based on goals (strength, endurance, overall health/longevity)

– HRV (Heart Rate Variability) and what factors affect this

And so.much.more!

Here’s a bit more about Stevie if you’re not familiar with her:

Stevie Smith is an experienced Registered Dietitian, board certified in sports nutrition, with a demonstrated history of working with individuals, groups, and also in clinical settings. In her work with InsideTracker, Stevie helps athletes like Shalane Flanagan use the platform’s analysis of blood biometrics, DNA insights and fitness tracker data to create science-backed recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle interventions and optimize for strength, endurance and longevity. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) focused in Dietetics and Nutrition from State University of New York College at Buffalo and Masters of Science (MS) in Applied Nutrition with a sports and fitness concentration from Northeastern University.

You can connect with Stevie on Instagram, read her articles at InsideTracker, and check out her website here. 

Resources from this episode:

Get 20% off at InsideTracker here and get customized recommendations based on your personal biomarkers. If you’re looking to take your health to the next level, this is an amazing tool!

Book recommendations from Stevie:

Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat slow. I ordered a copy after recording this episode and the recipes look AWESOME.

Rise and Run

Next Level

Roar

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.)

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 th Integrative Health Practitioner program. This is the certification I’m currently working towards and 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. 

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Best Babywearing Exercises

 Sharing 20 of the best babywearing exercises if you’re looking to work out with your baby close by. Check out the full list and form tutorials here!

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re having a great morning so far! I’m off to get some work stuff done (new Fit Team workouts go out next week) and then spend the rest of the day swimming with the crew. I hope you have a wonderful day.

For today’s post, I’m chatting about babywearing! It’s funny because I feel like those days were a LIFETIME ago, but I have so many friends who are currently pregnant or have new babies. (It allows me to soak up some baby snuggles without debating our “two and through” rule.”) When the girls were itty bitty, babywearing saved me. It enabled me to get things done around the house, cook meals, and also enjoy keeping them close and happy at the same time.

As you guys know, babywearing is holding your baby close to you using a carrier. It’s a clever way to go hands-free while you get some chores done, run errands, or even doing some exercises. Working out with a carrier is a great way to get your body moving and burn some calories, and the repetitive movements can also help calm a fussy baby. I still have the “mom sway” all these years later, and I hope it never goes away. 🙂 Today, I’m sharing a roundup of the best babywearing exercises that my friends out there can do without compromising bonding time with your babies.

The 10 Best Babywearing Exercises

(What do you think about my baby model? lolol)

Squat to calf raise

Make sure your feet are underneath your shoulders (hip width or slightly wider is good) and toes slightly turned out. Focus on sitting back, while keeping your chest lifted and a tight core. Inhale to lower, exhale to rise. Make sure that your knees go towards your toes, but not far past your toes. Sink your hips as low as your flexibility allows, exhale to rise, coming up onto your toes. Lower down, squat and repeat. This exercise will also increase your heart rate.

Plie squat

For this squat variation, you’ll take a very wide stance and turn your toes out. As you sink down, keep your chest lifted and endeavor to get your thighs parallel to the floor. Make sure your knees extend towards your toes but not past your toes. As you rise from the squat, exhale and think about engaging the inner thighs.

Hip extension

Hold onto a sturdy countertop or something as needed for balance support.

Biceps curls

Upper body workouts are usually a good choice when you’re exercising with a baby in the carrier. You keep your feet hip or shoulder width (whatever feels more stable) and perform your biceps curls here. Make sure to keep your elbows glued to your sides and arm for full flexion and full extension of the arm.

Lateral raises

Keep a slight bend at your elbows and bring your arms out to the side, stopping at shoulder height. Lower down with control.

Walking lunges

For your lunge setup, make sure your feet are hip distance apart, and think about sinking down instead of forward as you lunge. Watch the front knee to make sure it doesn’t extend past your toes.

Alternating curtsy lunges

Start with one leg forward, and toes angled out 45 degrees. Step your other foot totally back behind the front, so that your foot is behind the opposite shoulder. Sink low into a curtsy lunge, them as you exhale, squeeze to rise. Make sure that you take a nice big step back and to the side for your curtsy lunge.

Wall squats

Stand in front of a wall and keeping your back against the wall, walk your feet forward until your legs make a 90-degree angle. Hold here and breathe. If this is too much for your knees, stand up more to take some of the pressure on your knees.

Single arm row and triceps extension

Squeeze your shoulder blades together and keep your elbows close to your torso. Keep your back flat, and exhale as you press the weight back. As you press the weights back, think about really squeezing your triceps to lift your arms.  Keep the other hand on your baby to keep them secure as you lean forward.

Bench triceps dips

To modify, bend your knees. As you complete your dip, make sure that your elbows stay pointing straight back, keep your chest lifted, and shoulders down.

Here’s a quick video tutorial on all of the moves!

Some tips for postpartum exercise and working out with your baby in a carrier:

– Are you cleared to exercise by your doctor or midwife? If you haven’t had your 6 or 8 week checkup post-birth, I would wait, and focus on walking (if you feel up to it and depending on your birth and recovery), diaphragmatic breathing and and SMART pelvic floor work (like learning how to contract and fully relax your pelvic floor. A pelvic floor physical therapist will help you!).

– Make sure that your baby is the proper size for the carrier. Various types of carriers have different weight and height requirements. I personally loved the K’tan for the newborn phase and the Ergo when the kids were a bit older.

– If your baby isn’t old enough to have good head control, make sure that they’re snuggled close to you and their head is supported by a wrap carrier. They should also be secure, and high enough for you to kiss their head. Oftentimes, new mamas will wrap their babies too low on their bodies. I like to watch YouTube tutorials from each wrap or carrier company (like the Ergo or Baby K’tan channel specifically) on proper wrap carries.

– Watch your core and make sure you’re breathing the entire time. Because the baby is wrapped, it’s easy to lose the focus on supporting your body with the core. Engage your core during these exercises as you’re breathing.

– Hold onto a sturdy countertop for balance support if you need it. 

– As there’s excess relaxin in the body post-birth, this can make us more prone to injury through overstretching. Focus on finding a full range of motion within a safe range for your body.

– Move up in intensity slowly. You may be just getting back into your workout routine, and this can be compounded by an extra human weight attached to you. Try to do these exercises as bodyweight exercises before exploring them with the baby in the carrier.

Friendly reminder that this post is not medical diagnosis or treatment. As always, check with a doctor before making any fitness changes and honor your body. Be smart, k?

So, tell me, friends: did you ever work out with your baby in a carrier? We did lots of long walks and hikes, and I used to frequently put P on my back while I was cleaning the house, but I haven’t done a ton of babywearing workouts – this post was a lot of fun to put together. 🙂

Please feel free to share with a new mama friend, or let me know if you give these workouts a try!
xo

Gina

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How To Create A Home Gym On A Budget

Sharing tips on how to create a home gym on a budget and what equipment you really need.

Hi friends! Hope you’re enjoying the day so far and that all of my dad friends had a happy Father’s Day!

For this post, I wanted to chat about how to set up a home gym and what equipment you need, especially since many of us are still working out at home, or you might be considering creating a home gym on a budget.

Home gyms are getting even more popular since the pandemic started and there are SO MANY benefits to having your own gym at home. One of my favorite parts is that there’s zero commute time, and if the kids are home, I can just get in a workout while they play or watch a show.

Creating a home gym can be a bit challenging if you have a limited budget (some gym technology and gear is pricey!) but there are ways you can create a home gym that works for your needs without breaking the bank. You can also customize it based on what you like to do and what products you think you really need.

Before I get started, I just want to emphasize the fact that you don’t need fancy or expensive equipment to get in a great workout. All you need to get an awesome workout is a plan, sneakers that fit you, and motivation. Anything else is just a bonus.

How To Create A Home Gym On A Budget:

Take advantage of what you already have and create a wish list for future items

Create a list or spreadsheet with the items you currently have and prioritize the ones you have your eye on.

Create a budget and estimate expenses

Determine a total spending budget and after doing some searching online, you can estimate how much your total gym set-up will cost.

Invest in multi-tasking tools at first

An example of this is if you’re looking for strength training equipment, find something that you can use for multiple things (like dumbbells) and is versatile, before expanding into different products in the same theme (like barbells, kettlebells, etc.)

Create a dedicated workout space

This can be a full room in your house, a garage, an office corner, whatever you have the room to use. If you don’t have a dedicated space, you could even store your workout items in a closet in a large bin. If space is an issue, focus on the items that don’t take up a ton of room (like resistance bands, jump rope, small Pilates ball, etc.)

Buy secondhand equipment

I usually get lucky on Facebook marketplace, or when you hear about gyms closing or relocating, they’re often looking to sell their equipment (if they didn’t lease it).

Choose equipment you will actually use!

This one seems obvious but don’t purchase anything you won’t be excited to use in your routine. 🙂 A spin bike makes a lovely clothing rack but would be a waste of money.

Here are some of my top home gym essentials!

Home Gym Essentials

– Weights and resistance training

Dumbbells: The classic never dies. I think if you add anything to a home gym, a couple of sets of dumbbells are really all you need and provide the best value and versatility. I’d go with a light pair (3-8 lbs) and a heavier set (12-25 lbs). Adjustable dumbbells are another great option if you don’t want to take up a ton of space.

Kettlebells: Kettlebells are a great way to switch up your strength training. I love using them for swings and unilateral strength work like single-leg deadlifts, shoulder presses, farmer carries, and rows. A kettlebell workout is here. 

Barbells: If you’re used to strength training with dumbbells, a barbell can be a fun way to do something different.

Bowflex or cable machine: A Bowflex is a little less cumbersome than a cable machine and does a lot of the same things. I have this one and love it.

TRX: TRX is another one of my must-have items. You can install them anywhere, they’re extremely lightweight, and you can do so many exercises with them. My favorite TRX exercises are here.

Resistance bands: These are perfect if you’re a beginner and don’t want to purchase dumbbells yet, or if you have limited space. These are also wonderful for travel.

– Cardio options!

For cardio options, check out Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. People are always getting rid of fitness equipment and you might find something awesome!

Treadmill: My #1 favorite brand is Woodway, but they’re hard to find, and Peloton offers a treadmill. <— I haven’t tried it but know it has to be good.

Spin bike: My Peloton is still one of my all-time favorite purchases. I use it at least once a week and LOVE the classes. The Pilot is hooked on it now, too! I recommend a spin bike because it’s low impact, you can get in an excellent cardio workout, and they don’t take up at insane amount of space. Check out my review of the Peloton bike here, and how to PR on the Peloton here. If you decide to go for it, email me and I’m happy to pass along my referral code.

Rowing machine: These are incredible to have at home if you want a different cardio option or you like interval training. I like the rowing increases strength and definition in arms and back, when these areas can be a bit neglected on the spin bike, treadmill, or starclimber. The IndoRow is my fave brand. 

Battle rope: Battle ropes are so much fun (lots of exercises here!) and a fantastic way to get your heart rate up quickly.

Jump rope: This is the most economical cardio option. Grab a jump rope and do some jump intervals.

– Stretching, yoga, and recovery

Foam roller or rumble roller. My tips for foam rolling are here!

Mat. Any mat will do, and Target and Amazon offer inexpensive mat options. My all-time favorite mat is Manduka.

Theragun. This handy tool is inssannnnneee at relieving sore muscles. If you’re looking for an ultimate recovery tool, this is a good one.

– Fun extras:

(I miss my lil Bella Boo)

Apps and On Demand workouts:

Peloton App:

I think we all know I love Peloton. The classes are fantastic and I love the music. I will say I definitely prefer the cardio and yoga classes over the strength and bootcamp classes, but I think they do an incredible job. Check out my full review of the app here.

Les Mills On Demand:

Les Mills On Demand. Les Mills On Demand is one of my very favorite resources for home and travel workouts. The instructors are the best of the best and the workouts and science-driven and research-based for maximum effectiveness. They put a lot of care and science into the structure and design of their workouts, and you can tell. My top classes are BODYPUMP, BODY ATTACK, and GRIT. Get 21 days of Les Mills On Demand for free with this link.

Sweat app:

Sweat App. If you’re looking to follow a precise plan, the Sweat App is the place to be. They have so many different programs and I really like these workouts when I don’t want to think about anything and just go.

Barre apps:

Physique 57, Pure Barre and barre3. These are perfect if you’re looking for a barre workout! I used to prefer the P57 workouts but I feel like the On Demand ones have been a little stale lately.

More equipment:

A bench.

A pull-up bar. It’s fun to have family challenges but also kind of crazy that Liv and P can crank out pull-ups like it’s NBD.

Plyo boxes. Love these for step-ups, box jumps, box hops, and burpees with a box jump.

Sound system or even a portable Bluetooth speaker.

Do you work out at home or at the gym? If you could add anything to your workout space, what would it be? I really want a Peloton tread… or a Technogym Skill Mill.

Do you use any apps for classes?

xo

Gina

More:

Easy ways to update your home gym

Working out at home

Best Fitness Apps for moms

Workouts you can do with kids

How to combine Peloton with other workouts

 

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Friday Faves

Hey hey! Happy weekend! What are you up to? I hope that you have the loveliest weekend ahead. It’s supposed to rain here (BLESS IT) and we’re also off on a little staycation. We’ll be riding horses, doing archery (the girls are pumped) and enjoying time by the pool. I’ll be sharing the fun over on IG stories if you want to follow along over there.

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

(Pics from football camp at the University of Arizona! The girls were able to attend as part of Kids of Steele, a local organization that we belong to, and they also got photo ops with Wilbur and Wilma, plus the opportunity to tour the football facilities and meet the football players. It was such a fun event and the kids all loved it!)

Friday Faves

Fashion + beauty:

The new Beautycounter AHA toner is heeeeere! I was lucky to get my hands on an advance product sample and it’s one of my favorite new products. I’m so pumped I can finally spread the word because I’ve been using it now for the past few weeks with amazing results.

Here are some more details about it:

Made with a powerful blend of AHAs, beta hydroxy acid, kombucha, and niacinamide, this hardworking toner exfoliates skin to reveal a glowing complexion. Plus, it’s pore refining, helping to improve and minimize the appearance of pores.

BEST FOR:

Most skin types, especially those looking to brighten skin. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend doing a patch test on the back of your neck or inside of your wrist, and waiting 24 hours before full face application.

PERFORMANCE:

Brightening: Leaves skin soft, smooth, and glowing, and improves skin brightness.

*Pore-refining: Helps minimize and improve the appearance of pores

Resurfacing: Resurfaces dull, tired skin with 8% AHA + 5% phytic acid.

Purifying: Removes residual dirt and impurities, and does not leave skin feeling dry or stripped.

*Based on a 30-subject clinical study after four weeks, used once daily.

RESULTS:

I feel like this has absolutely brightened my skin and helped with pore size. My skin is super sensitive, too, and I haven’t had any problems using this. It makes my skin feel supple and smooth, and love including this as part of my routine.

KEY INGREDIENT BENEFITS

Niacinamide + Salicylic Acid (Beta Hydroxy Acid) Blend: Helps improve the appearance of dark spots and brighten skin.

AHA Complex: Blend of glycolic and lactic acids exfoliates dead skin to stimulate cell turnover.

Phytic Acid: Exfoliates to aid in cell turnover to help skin breathe for a natural glow.

Kombucha: Fermented black tea, which helps smooth skin and improve skin radiance.

HOW TO USE: Pour onto a cotton pad and swipe over clean, dry face. Use 1-2 times a week, gradually increasing to once daily use. Can be used as a morning refresh or an evening exfoliation. This would be used after cleansing and before a serum or the Essence. If you use the Overnight Resurfacing Peel or the AHA Mask, you will want to use the toner on opposite days. If you are using it in the daytime, make sure you apply SPF.

Shop it up here!  

Fitness + good eats:

The Summer Shape Up party starts July 11, but it will be here before we know it. Get on the list and mark your calendar now! I’m absolutely looking forward to some motivation to focus on healthy habits as we finish out the summer.

OMG THE BEST baked veggie chips ever. My friend Ana got them for me, who is my snack soulmate. We both love all things spicy, chamoy, and Tajin. These chips are crispy and coated in the most delectable seasoning. Liv and I ate the entire bag in like 20 minutes. I can’t wait to order more!!

Healthy meal prep for a week

Love going outside to harvest a few things each day 🙂 The okra is growing like crazy and this year, the carrots are really out of control. I’m pumped for the melon, bell peppers, and tomatoes to be ready – the rain this weekend will help.

Read, watch, listen:

I took the crew the see Lightyear yesterday at Roadhouse. While it wasn’t my faaave Disney/Pixar movie (it only made me cry once lol), it was very good. The kids adored it.

So many audiobook recommendations here.

Using mindfulness to become an “empowered introvert.”

Happy Friday, friends!

xoxo

Gina

PS I’m going to do a blog post of my favorite things lately and would love to include some of your faves. What’s something you purchased recently that’s changed your life? Something you find yourself using constantly? Something you frequently recommend to friends?

Please shout it out in the comments! It can be anything: clothing, accessories, home gear, kitchen gadgets, beauty products, etc.

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What I’ve read lately (June 2022)

Sharing the latest books I’ve read, if I’d recommend them, and what I’m reading currently. 

Hi friends! Happy Thursday! How’s the week been going? The girls have been over here swimming like little fish, and I’ve been trying to study and catch up on work stuff in between the summer adventures. I feel like summer is already going by wayyyy too quickly and can’t believe Father’s Day is this weekend! If you’re looking for last-minute gift ideas, check out this post. 

For today’s post, I wanted to share the latest book roundup. I always love to hear about what you’re reading, too, so please share your fave reads for summer (or ideas for vacation books!) in the comments section.

What I’ve read lately (June 2022)

The Good Left Undone

This book was a pick from Book of the Month, and while I thought it was beautifully-written, engrossing, and lovely… it wasn’t my fave. I tend to love multi-generational plot lines, but had high hopes for this one and was a bit disappointed. 7/10 would recommend.

Here’s the synopsis:

Matelda, the Cabrelli family’s matriarch, has always been brusque and opinionated. Now, as she faces the end of her life, she is determined to share a long-held secret with her family about her own mother’s great love story: with her childhood friend, Silvio, and with dashing Scottish sea captain John Lawrie McVicars, the father Matelda never knew….

In the halcyon past, Domenica Cabrelli thrives in the coastal town of Viareggio until her beloved home becomes unsafe when Italy teeters on the brink of World War II. Her journey takes her from the rocky shores of Marseille to the mystical beauty of Scotland to the dangers of wartime Liverpool—where Italian Scots are imprisoned without cause—as Domenica experiences love, loss, and grief while she longs for home. A hundred years later, her daughter, Matelda, and her granddaughter, Anina, face the same big questions about life and their family’s legacy, while Matelda contemplates what is worth fighting for. But Matelda is running out of time, and the two timelines intersect and weave together in unexpected and heartbreaking ways that lead the family to shocking revelations and, ultimately, redemption.

Dining with the Dead

The Pilot got this cookbook for me at the Hacienda del Sol gift shop after we enjoyed Sunday brunch. The author is from Mexico and the pages are filled with gorgeous color photographs and authentic Mexican recipes, including street food, desserts, moles, tamales, and salsas. It would make a gorgeous coffee table book, but I think the best spot is in the kitchen, well-used and covered in food splotches. I’ve only made one recipe from this cookbook so far (conchas!) and while it was labor-intensive, the final result was SO worth it. We all loved them!! I can’t wait to make even more recipes from this incredible cookbook. 10/10 recommend, especially if you’ve been wanting to learn how to make various Mexican staples.

Nine Perfect Strangers – DNF

I rarely call it quits on a book, but 200 pages into this one, and I couldn’t do it. You know when some books are extremely long, yet you’d wish they last forever? (Pachinko is one that comes to mind!) This one was long (about 450 pages) and I kept finding myself wishing the author would just get to the point already and MOVE ON. I’m a huge fan of Liane Moriarty, typically enjoy her writing style, and have read many of her books, but this one was a big ol’ flop for me.

From Amazon:

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.

Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking?

Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can?

It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.

What I’m reading currently

Book Lovers

YOU GUYS. This is the book of the summer. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I was completely invested in the story and am blitzing through the pages as quickly as possible. This is my favorite kind of summer cupcake book and I’m absolutely loving it so far.

And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini is the author of A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner (two of the best books I’ve ever read), and I was pretty thrilled when I found out he had a third novel that was written when Liv was one. I thought to myself, “There’s no way I had time to read anything when Liv was one” and ordered a copy. Turns out, I did read it. The initially portion felt familiar to me and a quick Google search lead me to this blog post. Good for past me taking time to read books lol.

I’m re-reading it, which is something I rarely do, and just like Book Lovers, I feel like I can’t finish it fast enough.

I also got a new book from Book of the Month (still highly recommend this!) and have been studying my face off for IHP 🙂 I’m still trying to finish this certification by the end of June, but with travel, it might be mid-July. I really want to head into Level 2!

So tell me, friends: do you re-read books? What are some of the ones you’ve come back to? I’ve re-read some business and personal development books, but was thinking about re-reading some of the *classics* from high school and college with an entirely different (hopefully wiser) perspective.

Have a great day and I’ll see you with Fri Faves tomorrow!

xo

Gina

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Summer Shape Up 2022 (free- join here!)

Join us for a fun and totally free 2-week fitness challenge: Summer Shape Up starting July 11! Details below. 

I’m bringin’ in back, bringin’ it back….

Summer Shape Up 2022 is on the way and I’m so pumped to be doing this with you all!!

SSU is one of the best times of the year, and I always look forward to our amazing community, cheering each other on, and sharing some amazing prizes with some lucky participants.

You know you’re in?

Grab your spot here or enter your email address below. Totally free and invite any friends or workout buddies to join in!

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If you’re new to Summer Shape Up, you’re in for a treat! I’ve been running this challenge on my blog since the very beginning, and every year it evolves into something different and better than the year before. This is 100% in thanks to all of you: your support and shared motivation with one another, check-ins and awesome comments keep this thing going. You help each other along the ways to your goals, and as your cheerleader from the sidelines, it’s heartwarming and inspiring to see.

Summer Shape Up 2022

So what is Summer Shape Up?

Two weeks of fitness plans, meal ideas and motivation to shake up your routine and get killer results from your efforts. It’s 100% FREE and always will be. Many similar programs are available for a subscription fee or one-time payment on other sites. Not here. Shape Ups are complimentary, and you get the advice and structure from a certified personal trainer, weight loss specialist, and Registered Dietitian all in one spot.

For this Shape Up, Mia has put together some amazing meal ideas for you to enjoy while working towards your goals. You can mix and match from the recipes depending on your eating preferences!

What to expect:

A complete fitness plan + meal ideas for 2 weeks. If you are subscribed to my newsletter, you will get EVERYTHING in your inbox ready to go on Friday, July 8.

We rock and roll Monday, July 11.

(If you just want to creep in and see what it’s like without signing up, I’ll post the workouts here Sunday of each week so you can still join along!)

How to set yourself up for success:

Gather your supplies.

You’ll need the following tools for a successful Shape Up:

1) A notebook or tracking tool (app) on your phone. I like to kick it old school and write down my workout and life in a notebook. Find what works best for you, and practice this week writing down your meals, workouts, water intake and how you feel each day. If you plan to track your macros, download My Fitness Pal or Chronometer.

2) Dumbbells. The workouts are going to be dumbbells and body weight ONLY, meaning you can do them anywhere at any time. For beginners, I suggest 3-5 lb weights to start, intermediates 8-15 lbs and advanced 15 lbs +.

Find a challenging weight for you, and consider investing in a light and heavy set. You’ll use your light set for your smaller muscle groups (like triceps) and heavy for the larger muscle groups (ex: back and legs).

3) A big ol’ water bottle. This will be your prop for the challenge (and let’s be real, it’s summer and HOT. We need to hydrate!). Find one you like and get ready to carry it around with you everywhere!

4) Good sneakers. If your shoes are on their (literal) last leg, it’s time for a new pair. Make sure you have comfortable, functional sneakers that fit you well.

5) A workout buddy. Send this post to a friend -it’s a lot of fun to do the workouts in a group!- and if you’re working out solo, make sure to check in with us on Instagram (tag me @fitnessista) and use the #summershapeup hashtag so we can cheer each other on! This is how you’ll enter to win prizes.

Each time you check in via IG stories or on your feed is an entry for prizes, including goodies from my favorite health companies, unlimited Fit Team membership, and more.

6) Start to get your motivation mojo going. Create an inspiration board on Pinterest, or you can make a tangible board with paper, magazine clippings and a glue stick) to set your intentions for this Shape Up. If you’d prefer to write it all out, take a few minutes to journal about how you want to feel when the month is over. Why do you want to change your routine? What do you want to accomplish? Start to pump yourself up for success!

Friendly reminder that this challenge isn’t about weight loss; it’s about getting back into a routine, taking your current routine to the next level, creating healthy habits, and feeling amazing. If weight loss, muscle building, or fat loss is a part of your goal, I will absolutely support you with that, too!

**This is also a great opportunity to chat with a doctor if you’re going to be making any fitness or nutrition changes. 

Are you going to be joining in the Shape Up this year? What’s something that you want to accomplish during the challenge??

Enter your email address here and make sure you’re in!

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Writing this post made me even more excited! Thank you for letting me train you from afar.

Please comment below and let us know you’re joining us!

xoxo

Gina

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