Pakistan Times : December 2022

Monday, 26 December 2022

Here are the top 22 posts and pages of 2022!

1. How to set up your Peloton bike or any spin bike

This was one of those posts that I was proud creating, because I knew I had friends out there who needs help with spin bike setup. (Also, I think the Peloton intro video does not explain it very well.) I was pumped to see that this post is still a top pick!

2. Why I tried Nutrisense and what I learned

I’ve been using Nutrisense for over a year now – I have a CGM attached to me while I write this post – and it’s been such a helpful tool in my health journey. It’s been so insightful to see how my body responds to different habits, stressors, foods, and workouts, and I’ve been able to make positive changes in my routine.

3. Potty training tips from two nanas

This is an old post – my girls are far beyond the potty training years – but has held a top spot for a long time. My mom and nana potty trained Liv in 24 hours, and I’m sharing all of their tips here. (P potty trained herself when she was about 18 months old. She yelled at me, “NO MORE DIAPERS” and that was that. I’ve had it very easy on the potty training front lol.)

4. How to keep your guinea pig cage clean

The guinea pigs are SO cute but I REALLY didn’t want our house to smell like a barn when we got them. Here’s how I keep their cage clean!

5. F45 vs. Orangetheory – my full review

This was another post that I thought would help those who were curious about the difference between the two popular bootcamp-style classes. I break it all down here!

6. How to train for a half marathon while strength training

I made this training plan for a friend (who has used it successfully a few times now) and wanted to share it on the blog. I’m definitely not a running coach, but I am pretty good at putting plans together that can help you get towards your goals without encouraging overtraining injuries.

7. Why type of cardio to do after strength training

8. Morning detox drink

This morning detox drink is such a great way to start the day, and now through my work studying blood sugar balance and learning more through IHP, I know more about WHY this can be so beneficial. I had stopped drinking it, but brought it back into my routine. It’s excellent first thing in the morning, or even in the afternoon an hour or so before lunch or dinner.

9. Homemade gelatin gummies for gut health

LOVE these little gelatin-packed gummies and so do the kids! They ask to make these every few weeks.

10. How much cardio is too much?

The GOLDEN fitness question. Surprise: you *need* less than you likely think you need.

11. I got my breast implants removed + my experience with explant surgery

This is still one of the best things I’ve ever done for my health. While I definitely miss the look of my implants, I feel a thousand times better with them out. I anticipate that this post will continue to be a top post because the demand for this procedure continues to rise as women become more educated about the potential harm of breast implants.

12. Adrenal cocktail recipe and why you should try it

This is another healthy drink I love! You can also drink it AFTER a balanced meal (veggies, protein, healthy fats, smart carbs), if you’re worried about spiking blood sugar.

13. How to take care of a fiddle leaf fig tree

Frida, the queeeeeeen! It’s hard to believe that she’s even bigger now than she was in these pics! She’s slowly taking over the living room. Sharing all of the details about how I keep her alive and thriving.

14. Fall wardrobe essentials

Some of my favorite fashion finds for fall, plus some options that stay within trends without looking too young.

15. TRX workout plan for beginners

One of my favorite things about the TRX is that it’s easily scaled for various fitness levels. This plan focuses on exercises that would be appropriate for beginners, with room for more challenging professions.

16. How to combine Peloton with other workouts + a sample plan

This one is all about how to use the Peloton bike if you like to do other workouts and how to combine them into a weekly plan.

17. Pure barre vs. barre3. Which one is better?

The details on two of my barre class loves, which are both excellent workouts, but are very different from one another.

18. Copycat glow bowl recipe from Flower Child

We’re finally getting a Flower Child and I CAN’T WAIT. In the meantime, I recreate recipes like this one.

19. Fitness Categories

I didn’t post a ton of new workouts this past year – it’s one of my goals for 2023 – but I was happy to see ya’ll are still using the workouts and plans I’ve shared here.

20. We painted our cabinets Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee

This is one of the best DIYs we’ve done for the house and it was a huge money saver.

21. DIY grazing boxes

Love these mini cheese board boxes for an individual appetizer, or little gift along with a bottle of wine.

22. How to make tempeh taste good

The age old question haha. Thankfully, I have a few amazing tempeh recipes and strategies!

These blog posts are random… just like yours truly

It’s a pretty solid mix of fitness, good eats, and lifestyle posts. I also noticed that the second half of my top 50 analytics were focused on biohacking products (like my sauna blanket review, Oura ring, red light face mask, etc.). I was very surprised to see so much fitness content doing well this year. It was a good nudge to continue to answer questions my friends out there want to know regarding fitness and health strategies, classes, and formats. It’s also a good nudge to post some more full plans and workouts!

If you have any suggestions for the upcoming year, pleeeeeease take 2 minutes to fill out my annual survey here. It’s so important to me to create a blog that you enjoy reading, so your feedback means the world to me.

Ok friends, I’m doing something wild the rest of the week: I’m taking the week off of blogging. I’m pretty sure I’ve never done this and am looking forward to a little break and hitting the new year back here refreshed and ready to go!

It will be the perfect time to enjoy some extra adventures with our babies before they head back to school. I also need to do this for myself to prove that my blog won’t disappear if I happen to step away for a few days. 😉

I’ll see you all in the new year and hope you have a wonderful week!

Gina

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Friday, 23 December 2022

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

Hi friends! I hope that whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hannukah, or a lovely Friday, that you have an amazing weekend. Please know that I’m grateful for you every.single.day and I’m sending you the biggest hug and lots of love. I pray that 2023 is a year filled with happiness, good health, and time surrounded with those you love.

Thank you for being here and being a part of this community. <3

xoxo,

Gina + the Pilot, Liv, P, Maisey, Cookie the hairless guinea pig, and Donut

Photos by Audria Abney

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Thursday, 22 December 2022

120: High Vibration Foods with Chef Whitney Aronoff

Hi friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week! I’m so excited for today’s podcast episode because I’m chatting with Chef Whitney Aronoff about healthy cooking strategies, high vibration foods, her favorite healthy meals and more.

Here’s more about Whitney and her background:

Whitney Aronoff is a Health Supportive Personal Chef in Laguna Beach, California who attended The Natural Gourmet Institute and went on to work farm-to-table restaurants in New York City and Newport Beach. She is passionate about wellness, the vibration of food, and supporting others in living their best life.

As a personal chef Whitney prepares custom meals and dinner parties for her clients. She shares her seasonal recipes on Starseed Kitchen and in her eCookbook, High Vibration Cooking. In 2020, Chef Whitney launched a line of organic spice blends, graciously sharing the custom seasonings that brought her family around the table for years.

Knowing that a healthy diet is just one layer of being well, in 2021 she launched the podcast High Vibration Living With Chef Whitney Aronoff. She interviews experts on healthy eating, cooking, wellness, beauty, travel and spirituality to help others find the modalities and tips to help them feel their best and live in harmony with the world around them.

As the expert on high vibration foods, Whitney believes eating is a transfer of energy between our energetic being and the food we eat. She is an advocate for setting intentions that put the power of healing in our own hands through what she identifies as the four pillars – food, spiritual, emotional, and ethereal.

After all, only you know what your body needs!

Believing the healthiest meal you can eat is the one you make at home, Chef Whitney aims to invite people into her kitchen, feeling empowered to make healthy choices for themselves and their loved ones, and to experience high vibration living.

Resources from this episode:

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!

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. I have a post-holidays shipment on the way and CAN’T WAIT.

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 the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I finished Level 1 and am working my way through Level 2. I highly recommend it! You can check out my review 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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Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Our Favorite Holiday Recipes

From Nana’s Famous Egg Dish to Spiced Sangria and Bourbon Pecan Pie, these are our favorite holiday recipes that we enjoy every Christmas!

‘Tis the season for all of the festive eats and drinks. We’ve been enjoying this cozy week at home cooking our favorite holiday recipes and getting ready for the Christmas weekend

While most of the time I aim to eat nourishing recipes with greens and protein and fresh wholesome ingredients (like these spa cuisine recipes), I like to live by the 80/20 perspective, allowing plenty of space for special treats. I’m also a big believer of enjoying holidays, special food, and time spent together.

We have several traditional-to-us recipes that make an appearance on our table during the holiday season year after year; like it’s tradition to have Alton Brown’s Overnight Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas morning while opening presents. From brunch casseroles to spiced sangria and Ina’s rib roast, I’m sharing our favorite holiday recipes – enjoy!

Our Favorite Holiday Recipes

Nana’s Famous Egg Dish

This egg casserole is perfect for any brunch or holiday celebrations. It freezes beautifully to make ahead, and tastes amazing with pico de gallo salsa.

Greens Beans with Goat Cheese, Almonds & Cranberries

These green beans are bright and fresh, with creamy goat cheese, orange zest, crunchy slivered almonds and sweet cranberries. The recipe is gluten-free and only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.

The Ultimate Fall & Winter Salad

This salad is a fall dream come true. It has butternut squash, spicy arugula, a tangy vinaigrette, chicken, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese. It’s perfect for any holiday gatherings or parties and makes a veggie-packed side dish. My vegetarian friends can easily omit the chicken and it’s just as delicious without it.

The Best Raw Chocolate Tart

This raw chocolate tart, made with cashews and cocoa and an almond coconut crust is a decadent gluten-free dessert that doesn’t require any cooking!

Holiday Spice Sangria

Holiday spice sangria! It’s made in advance of any holiday soirees, and the flavors just get better over the span of a few days. It’s perfect to take to parties, as it’s a fun switch-up from the usual bottle of vino.

Ina Garten’s Mulled Wine

Warm up with a pot of Ina Garten’s Mulled Wine recipe, a mix of apple cider and red wine infused with cinnamon, cloves and orange.

Ina’s Sunday Rib Roast

Ina’s Sunday Rib Roast with mustard horseradish is often our centerpiece at a holiday party. It’s a crowd favorite.

Ina’s Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

Another favorite from Ina. Chocolate, bourbon and pecans—what’s not to love? I’ve made this twice this year already and plan to make it again on Saturday.

Here’s what our menu looks like this year:

Christmas Eve: dinner at my dad’s house (Mexican food buffet + my Aunt’s famous egg nog and all the desserts)

Christmas Brunch:

Nana’s egg casserole
Alton Brown’s cinnamon rolls
Bacon or ham (I haven’t decided yet)
Tamales and beans (from madre!)

Christmas Day dinner:

Cheese board and artichoke dip with crackers
Mediterranean chopped salad
Smoked turkey on the Traeger
Stuffing and gravy
Beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce
Cheesy potatoes (madre)
Fresh sourdough
Bourbon pecan pie + dessert platter (tons of different cookies and candies)
Mulled wine, egg nog, and champagne

It should be a very good, and very tasty, weekend ahead 😉

See you tomorrow with a new podcast episode!

Gina

Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Intermittent Fasting, Carb Cycling and Macros to Support Midlife Body Changes with Le Bergin

Intermittent Fasting, Carb Cycling and Macros to Support Midlife Body Changes with Le Bergin

How can you stay fit, lose the fat, and get the body you want faster than ever in Midlife? This week, Natalie Jill sits down with Le Bergin and they discuss everything you’re able to do to accomplish that. This episode is a new look at fat loss, and you’re going to LOVE it.

Join me in LEVELING UP on FASTer Way to Fat Loss HERE!

Le Bergin is a Lead Trainer for the FASTer Way to Fat Loss. With almost 20 years experience as a Certified Personal Trainer, she is passionate about educating men and women through personalized nutrition and exercise to help empower them to live their best lives with energy and intention. She herself is in Midlife and if you watch on YouTube or follow her on Instagram, you’ll see she is extremely fit.

She is a former high school teacher and cheerleading coach, mom of two teenagers, and she owns a boutique gym in Galveston, Texas with her husband. She has over ten certifications, starting with TaeBo through Plyoga, to Kettlebells, nutritional certifications and FRC (Functional Range Conditioning).

In this episode, you will learn:

Why you should look into Intermittent Fasting
What is carb cycling
How you can support your body better in midlife

The post Intermittent Fasting, Carb Cycling and Macros to Support Midlife Body Changes with Le Bergin appeared first on Natalie Jill Fitness.

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Monday, 19 December 2022

Best hiking trails in Tucson

Sharing my top picks for the best hiking trails in Tucson.

Hi hi! Happy Christmas week and hope that you all are having a lovely morning. We had a great weekend. It was Elf night with friends, we decorated gingerbread houses, and I taught a barre class. We’re headed on a little staycation later this week, and I’m definitely looking forward to it.

For today’s post, I wanted to share some of my favorite hiking trails in Tucson! We are in the middle of hiking season (I think the best weather is from late October until early May), and my top trails have been packed with locals and tourists, enjoying the gorgeous Tucson scenery. I’ve been a fan of hiking for many years, but really fell more in love with it over the past few years, because it was one of the only things we could do. We used the opportunity to explore some of our favorite trails, we visited Sedona a few times as a family, and the kids fell in love with hiking, too.

It’s become one of our favorite family adventures.

I wanted to post some of the best Tucson hiking trails, plus some of my tips for hiking with kids.

Best hiking trails in Tucson

Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon is the destination, but within Sabino Canyon, there are tons of trails. If you are a newbie or it’s your first time in Tucson, you can stay on the main tram road, which is about 7.3 miles out and back. It’s paved and heavily-populated. Within the canyon, you can use All Trails to discover so many different trails depending on length and your hiking level. If you want something more rustic but still populated, you can do the Bear Canyon trail.

For longer/sportier hikes, try Phoneline, Blackett’s, and Seven Falls (pack a lunch and lots of water for this one).

If you have kids with you, I highly recommend Bear Canyon to Sabino Dam. It’s short and there a ton of water for the kids (and adults) to wade and play.

Finger Rock

I’ve only ever done the main Finger Rock trail, but it’s become one of my favorites. The scenery is gorgeous, the views are amazing, and it’s not super challenging or rocky. It’s pretty kid-friendly, but keep in mind that there are more creatures here. I’m from Tucson and had never seen a gila monster in the wild until this past year; I saw two on this trail within a few weeks of each other!

Tumamoc Hill

Tumamoc Hill is a large hill by campus and is 3.1 miles total (an out-and-back). The first half is a steep incline and when you reach the top, you have sweeping views of the entire city. This is one of my favorite recs for visitors because the views are majestic, it’s not super long, and then it’s a short drive to the Mercado San Augustin for Presta coffee and Mexican donuts (from Estrella).

Agua Caliente trail

This one is an 8-mile out-and-back that’s relatively challenging with beautiful views. A major perk: dogs are allowed on this trail (on a leash!). This is a rarity in Tucson, so it makes this trail pretty special.

Ventana Canyon Trail

This one is right by the Loews Ventana Canyon resort. It has lots of ups and downs, but great views, and pretty accessible for all levels. If it has rained recently, you may have to cross through water. My Tucson insider tip: do this on a Sunday, and book the Brews and Blues brunch at Loews afterwards. You’re welcome.

Tips for hiking with kids:

– Get them kids’ Camelbaks, and encourage them to wear them, even if you’re only planning on a short hike. When the kids wear these, it’s like they have a superpower and it’s been over a year and the novelty hasn’t worn off. They LOVE these things and feel like legit hikers when they wear them. (It’s also very handy to not have to carry both of their water bottles).

– Hiking shoes may be worth the investment. I find that many kids’ sneakers are slippery on the bottom and don’t do well with climbing or steeper areas. I’ve found all of the kids’ hiking shoes on Amazon (these ones are excellent) and Nordstrom Rack.

– Go out with zero expectations. Since the girls were babies, I’ve told myself that a walk or hike may last 5 minute or may last 2 hours. Whatever happens, it’s ok. They ALWAYS surprise me. These kids have climbed super steep areas (like Camelback Mountain and Birthing Cave in Sedona), gone through caves (in Boulder), and have hiked for many hours with plenty of water and snacks. The first part of the hike is always a mixed bag (“This is boring,” “When is it over?”) and then they never want to leave.

– Go with friends! If your kids are apprehensive about hiking or you’re trying to build excitement for them, invite some of their friends to join in. This one is always a winner, and something we try to do over breaks from school.

So, tell me, friends: what are your favorite hiking trails near you? Spread the love in the comments!

What’s your favorite hiking destination? I DREAM about going back to Mountain Trek. It was absolutely magical.

Have a great day!
xo

Gina

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Friday, 16 December 2022

Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday! How are you? What do you have going on? Our friends are having their annual Elf party tonight and we have the fighter group’s kids’ Christmas party tomorrow. I’m setting up a table for the kids to make snowman slime! I’m also teaching a barre class and finishing up holiday baking and prep so I can CHILL next week. I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead! This post is going live early, so when I’m awake and have the kids dropped off at school, I’ll put all of this year’s Favorite Things giveaway winners live here. (Yessss you can sneak in last-minute entries until I get the winners posted.)

Friday Faves

Some adventures from this week:

The most beautiful hike with the crew! They woke up and asked to go to Sabino Canyon, so we headed there for a family hike to the Sabino Dam. The water was freezing, but it didn’t stop all of us from getting our feet wet. 😉 I’m so happy the babies like to hike as much as we do! We capped off the afternoon with a trip to the dog park, Starbucks for pink drinks for the girls and a pup cup for Maisey, and smoked brisket with salad and homemade sourdough for dinner.

Can someone please explain to me how both of my babies are almost as tall as me?

Decorating nana’s house for Christmas. We were late on the boat this year, but better late than never, right? We took pizzas over and had a little front yard picnic while the Pilot strung the lights and the girls danced around to Christmas music.

Fitness + good eats:

Here’s what this week’s workouts looked like! I don’t typically count walks as my workouts (since we don’t move very quickly and I think of it more as a mental health break than a workout) but included them below.

Sunday: Leisurely family hike – 1 hour

Monday: Pure barre + 30-minute walk with Maisey

Tuesday: F45 total body resistance workout + 30 minute walk with Maisey

Wednesday: Walk with Maisey (30 minutes)

Thursday: F45 leg day + 30 minute walk with Maisey

Friday: Fit Team upper body weights (40 minutes) + 30-minute walk/jog with Maisey

Saturday: OFF

If you’re looking for Christmas recipes for next week, here are some ideas!

ALWAYS nana’s egg casserole

The best overnight cinnamon rolls

Vegan egg-less nog

Raw chocolate tart

A super easy and delicious turkey recipe

Holiday spice sangria

Grammies

Festive holiday cocktails

What are you cooking for Christmas dinner? We always try to switch it up, and I’m a little stumped this year. We always do Mexican food at my dad’s for Christmas Eve, and last year we did surf and turf at our house from Christmas day (steak, salmon, crab legs, and sides). If you have any ideas or traditions, please send them my way! I’m thinking of this turkey roulade and this rib roast? You can never go wrong with Ina.

Fashion + beauty:

Holiday shopping is wrapping up! I always love to go back and see which gifts you’ve enjoyed most from my gift guides and report back on all the good stuff!

Here are the top gift guide picks from my analytics:

This turtleneck. I have it in the camel color and the quality is amazing

Funny dish towels

My current fave jeans are in the top each week – I’m so glad so many of you like them as much as I do! It’s a perfect way to venture into non-skinny jeans without going too far

Bose sleep buds

This vegan leather square neck mini dress

This two piece sweater set I wear all the time!

This kids’ North Face hoodie. Both of the girls have these and they’re super cozy and soft

This Dry Bar brush

Quite a few of my virtual BFFs out there will have matching Christmas dresses with our girls!

The dusty pink sweater I’ve been wearing lately

This men’s down vest! I need to order one for the Pilot

This faux leather jacket

Kids’ hooded one-piece pajamas. Both of the girls have multiple ones from Tucker + Tate; they’re so cute and excellent quality

This under the desk treadmill is 50% off! I might be ordering one for myself lol

The best hair mask in all the land

This lightweight puffer jacket

This pretty and flattering sweater dress!

Frozen wine slushie mix, further proving that ya’ll are my people

Read, watch, listen:

I finished this book and LOVED it. While I’m pretty familiar with the top blood sugar hacks, the author really broke it down in a way that was accessible for life, and backed everything up with studies, as well as her own observations. It was an easy read and if you’re looking to improve insulin sensitivity and optimize your body’s blood sugar response, definitely check it out! (I only with she would have gone more into sleep and stress, but really enjoyed the book.)

I’m also wearing a Nutrisense CGM right now and have implemented some of her strategies. If you’d like me to write a post with changes I’ve made or things I’ve emphasized more often, I can definitely do that.

White elephant gifts that people really want. (So many ideas in the comments section, too!)

Things to try from Trader Joe’s.

Check out this week’s podcast episode here.

Healthy meal ideas.

4 ways to be kind.

Happy Friday, friends!

Gina

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Wednesday, 14 December 2022

119: Gut health, GI map testing and food sensitivities with Julie Davey, RN, MSN, ACNP-C, ANP-C, IBBFA

This podcast episode is sponsored by Nutrisense! I’ve been a huge fan of Nutrisense for over a year and am wearing a CGM right now 🙂 If you’d like to join me and get insight to your habits, your body, and make some healthy changes, sign up here. Use this link and the promo code TFP (stands for The Fitnessista Podcast) to get $30 off and 1 month of free dietitian support.

Hi friends! I’ve got a new podcast episode up today and I’m chatting with Julie Davey about gut health, GI map testing, and food sensitivities. She’s a Nurse Practitioner and GI Mapping Specialist with so much knowledge and experience to share.

119: Gut health, GI map testing and food sensitivities with Julie Davey, RN, MSN, ACNP-C, ANP-C, IBBFA

Here’s what we discuss:

– How GI map testing works and who might benefit from it

– How our gut health affects many processes in the body, including our immune system function

– Food sensitivities and the difference between an IgE and an IgG reaction

– and so.much.more!

Here’s a bit more about Julie:

Julie is a nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. She received her undergraduate degree from the Medical College of Georgia and graduate degree from Emory University. She holds a faculty position at Emory University educating future nurse practitioners.

In 2013, Julie became interested in a more holistic approach to wellness. She began educating others on the power of food and natural medicine to heal the body. Today, Julie owns a virtual consulting business helping clients get to the root cause of their symptoms through innovative clinical testing. She is passionate about gut health and is the co-founder of Mastering GI MAPPING, a course teaching medical practitioners how to incorporate GI MAP testing into their practice. She takes a holistic approach to healing the issues uncovered through proper testing in order to restore energy, mental clarity, promote better sleep, skin, immunity, weight loss, and so much more! Julie is the co-host of the podcast “Take the Upgrade” which allows her to share her message with the masses. Julie loves empowering others with the necessary tools to live a healthy and vibrant life. She believes that with the right support and daily habits, you will experience real progress and lasting change!

Connect with Julie on her website, listen to her podcast here, and find her on Instagram here.

Resources from this episode:

Have you been wanting to try Nutrisense? Now is your chance! I’ve been using this tool on and off for a year, after I found out that my fasting glucose was borderline high. It’s enabled me to make simple changes in my routine, and learn more about how my body responds to certain foods, stressors, and habits.

Your blood sugar levels can significantly impact how your body feels and functions, and Nutrisense helps you analyze in real-time how your body responds to exercise, stress, and sleep. It’s so empowering to be able to see how your body is responding, and make changes as you go. I also like to wear a Nutrisense CGM every couple of months as a reminder to focus on the habits that help me sleep, function, and perform at my optimal level.

Check out Nutrisense here and use the code TFP for $30 off and 1 month of free dietitian support! The dietitian support is invaluable and helps you assess your data, make changes, and run experiments.

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Tuesday, 13 December 2022

The Money Mentality to Change your Finances in Midlife with Kiné Corder

The Money Mentality to Change your Finances in Midlife with Kine Corder

We all know about “money mindset” — but that’s our CONSCIOUS brain. YES we all know about balancing our checkbooks — but often times, it’s our SUB-CONSCIOUS brain that holds us back. Our subs-conscious brain, or our Money Mentality, has stories rolling around that wont let us process it the way we see in our imagination.

The Money Mentality to Change your Finances in Midlife with Kiné Corder listen up midlife conversations natalie jill

There are 3 Phases we can encounter (and no we dont always encounter any or all of these modes…but a lot of us do/have):

Survivor: You’re in scraping and scrounging mode. You could have millions of dollars coming in, yet you are living outside of your means, you’re just surviving. This is the mode where you feel like you dont have enough — perhaps you are comparing yourself to others or to a vision you want. You’ve been told that money is hard to come by. To move out of any of these: check out where this belief came from. A mistake you made? Your parents? Cultural? etc. Once you identify where it came from, try to shift your belief.
Striver: You are always looking for whats next?! Where are the opportunities? Where is the next deal? Work work work. This is because we believe that money is an action — that we must be DOING something for our money to be happening.
Thriver: You have money, but you want more meaning. You want to enjoy what you’re doing -or- you want to make a difference with the money you do make. You get to your TRUE AUTHENTIC SELF and can REALLY shine.

Kiné is a National Certified Counselor specializing in Financial Therapy for healers. She’s also the CEO of Presidential Lifestyle, a tech enabled wellness company focused on changing the way mental health is viewed and administered. Her mission is to provide every human being with the tools they need to achieve mental clarity and a sense of purpose starting with healers. You may remember her from the Oprah show or ABC’s Extreme Makeover Show where she had the #1 rated episode and was chosen as the spokesperson for the show. Since then, she’s become a best-selling author and international speaker taking the stage with Les Brown, Daymond John, JJ Virgin and other well-known speakers.

A Chicago native and career entrepreneur with a passion for helping others, Kiné’s most known for creating a global virtual therapy practice two years before the pandemic ever happened. Through her practice, her speaking, and her SelfSync Therapy she’s changed thousands of lives and provided careers to other therapists and healthcare professionals. Kiné pours herself into her business, her community, her family, but most importantly into her own personal development. As a lifelong learner she is always looking for an interesting book, documentary, retreat, or place to travel internationally.

In her keynote talk, Kiné helps attendees understand the importance of reconciling negative emotions like guilt or greed around money by sharing the keys to getting comfortable asking for money, receiving money, and ultimately having money. Today Kiné will discuss how to reconcile your emotions around money to find mental clarity and a sense of purpose in midlife.

In this episode, you will learn:

How to shift your mindset around money
How to get comfortable talking money
Best practices to handle your finances in Midlife

The post The Money Mentality to Change your Finances in Midlife with Kiné Corder appeared first on Natalie Jill Fitness.

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The Best Raw Chocolate Tart

This raw chocolate tart, made with cashews and cocoa and an almond coconut crust is a decadent gluten-free dessert that doesn’t require any cooking!

What if I told you that you can make a decadent chocolate dessert that doesn’t require any cooking?

This raw chocolate tart is one of my favorite chocolate-y desserts. Not only is it made with real food ingredients, but it is also vegan, gluten-free, and raw-diet friendly. Remember when I got certified as a raw chef? (It feels like a lifetime ago) I actually posted this recipe years ago, but the pieces were hidden amongst random blurry photos and word soup and it really, really deserved its own post. It’s one of my top recipes I’ve posted on the blog ever!

Note: this tarte is not nut-free, but the nuts and coconut give it that decadent flavor.

This recipe can also be made ahead of time if you’re making it for a special occasion – simply store it in the fridge!

You can top it with fresh raspberries, sea salt, or coconut whipped cream – whatever your heart desires. Enjoy 🙂

The Best Raw Chocolate Tart

Ingredients for the Crust:

1 1/2 cups almonds
1 1/2 cups coconut
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 dates, pitted
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. almond extract – optional

Measure the almonds, then in a Vitamix or a food processor, grind into a fine flour.
Add the dates and chop with the almonds.
In a large mixing bowl, add the maple syrup, almond/date mixture, melted coconut oil, vanilla, coconut, sea salt and extract (optional – I used almond). Add in about 1/2 cup more coconut if you need it – this mixture was a little too wet.
Press the mixture into a large tart pan, or mini tart pans and dehydrate for 1 hour at 105 degrees. If you don’t have a dehydrator, place the tart crust in the oven on the lowest setting for 30 minutes.

Ingredients for the Filling:

2 1/2 cups soaked raw cashews
1 1/2 cups cacao powder
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/3 cup water
3/4 cup melted coconut oil

In a Vitamix blender, add the cashews, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, sea salt and water. Blend well until smooth and creamy.
Add the cacao powder and blend until mixture is totally smooth–no lumps

3. Lastly, add the coconut oil and blend until smooth.

4. Fill your tart shell (or you can make mini tarts) and place in the freezer to set for at least an hour. Remove the tart from the tart pan (you run water on the bottom of the pan to help loosen it) and store in the fridge. To serve, top with raw whipped cream and a sprinkle of high quality sea salt.

Monday, 12 December 2022

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers

Sharing some last-minute gift ideas and stocking stuffers for everyone on your list!

Hi hi! How are ya? I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Ours was low-key and perfect. Friday was a bit wild (girl scouts, dance, a bday party) but Saturday was gloriously low-key. We watched movies and baked Christmas cookies, and I took a hot yoga class. Sunday morning was a hike, work, and putting lights up at nana’s house.

Today, I have some work to do for Fit Team (getting January workouts and our challenge ready to go!), but wanted to pop in and share some last-minute gift ideas. I’m finishing things up over here – I dubbed tomorrow “Holly Jolly day” and am spending the day wrapping and getting any remaining gifts – and wanted to share some inspiration if you’re doing the same this week! A lot of stores have shipping cutoffs, but if you order in the next couple of days, you should be good to go. Here are some ideas if you’re checking off gifts this week!

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers

Last-minute gifts that will get here on time:

For her:

– This sweater! I got this and absolutely love it. It’s high quality and on sale right now, and the camel color is gorgeous.

– This gorgeous apron

– This velvet jumpsuit (or get this one for yourself)

– This rose half-zip

– Water resistant Chelsea boots (I have these in black and wear them constantly)

– A sauna blanket or PEMF Go Mat. My liiiiiiiiiiiife and two of my very favorite things. I use the Go Mat daily for meditation, and use the sauna blanket 2-3 times per week and it feels amaaaaazing. I sleep so well and it makes my skin glow. Use FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off HigherDOSE faves.

– The best crosstraining sneakers

–A trendy asymmetrical bra for yoga.

– TRX Go Suspension trainer.

– Cookbook with new fuel ideas

– A theragun.

– A Sakara delivery! These meals are so fresh and beautiful, and will feel like such a wonderful gift for a sleep-deprived mama. She’ll be able to enjoy nourishing and beautiful meals she didn’t have to cook herself. Click here and use XOGINAH for 20% off meal delivery and clean boutique items.

For him:

– Lounge pants

– Men’s Ugg slippers on an awesome sale

– The Pilot’s fave workout shorts

– A classic metal vent tech tee

– ABC joggers

– The Pilot’s fave workout shorts.

– New weights or even a bench set with squat rack.

– A wall-mounted massage roller.

– New running shoes.

– Stanley camp mug.

– A cozy robe.

– Down vest

– The most amazing button-down shirts (the Pilot LOVES these).

– Everyday boots.

– Zella joggers.

– Casual low-top sneakers.

For the kids:

–Kids’ digital camera

– Puzzle sets

– Magnatiles or anything Lego

– A cozy jacket

– This unicorn onesie

– Giant Gem discovery kit

– Science magic kit

– Rain boots

– Art supplies

–Arts and crafts library

– Dance or gymnastics leotards

–Personalized tote bag

– A new jacket

Stocking stuffers:

For her:

– Jade roller

– Bombas socks or slippers

– Love this cozy beanie (on sale)

– These gorgeous mini stud earrings

– The BEST sleep mask

–Initial pendant necklace

– This sugar lip set

-My top leggings pick. I always come back to these ones because the quality is amazing and they’re not see-through at all.

– The cutest belt bag! They’re constantly out of stock but at the time of writing this post, they’re still available

– Long sleeve tech shirt

– Mini hand creams

– Fruit babies bestsellers (split these up)

– Topical magnesium spray. I’ve been obsessed with this for maybe 2 years now! I spray it on the kids’ feet, too.

– Set of claw clips

– A mini waffle maker

–Small candles from a beloved local company (get Mt. Lemmon or Sedona!)

– My #1 hair care must-have

– This hand salve for super dry hands

For him:

The best sports headphones. We both have these and love them!

Golf ball whiskey chillers

Weed torch – totally getting this for the Pilot

His favorite snacks

Sunglasses

A new watch

His skincare or hair care faves

Tiny bottles of mixers or whiskey

The best boxers

For the kids:

Books make awesome stocking stuffers! Some faves:

– The Babysitter’s Club graphic novels. Liv has read all of these and LOVES them. I highly recommend if you have an 8-11 year old

– Harry Potter box set

– The Pigeon books

– Small lego sets

– Stuffed animals or little Jellycats

– Personalized bookmarks or hair clips

The girls also love jewelry, slime (my nightmare lol but they love it), sunglasses, and then they were babies I did shaker toys, little dolls, bubbles

Happy Monday, friends!

Gina

Note: none of this post is sponsored and companies are unable to purchase spots on my holiday gift guides. These are all curated by yours truly and include items I genuinely think would make awesome gifts. Affiliate links are included, which have no impact on purchase price, but enable me to earn a small kickback. When you shop through my affiliate links, you directly support my little blog and the cost of keeping everything running smoothly over here. Thank you! <3

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Wednesday, 7 December 2022

Fitness gear that’s worth the hype (and what’s overrated)

Sharing my thoughts on what fitness gear is worth the hype, and worth the investment, and what I think is overrated and should be skipped.

Helloooooo! How are ya? I hope you’re enjoying the week. Thank you so much to those of you who have entered the giveaway and answered my yearly survey – I appreciate your help so much.

We’re in the middle of the December sprint – so many events and fun parties – but I’m popping in to chat about fitness gear. I feel like so many people are getting a head start on things this year, especially with New Years’ goals and prep. Group fitness classes are already bumping, and my fellow trainer friends said they’re also getting booked quickly for January and February. (I have 3 coaching spots left for Jan. If you’re looking for 1:1 nutrition coaching or fitness programming, you can apply here.)

Since many of us are prepping home gyms, scoping out fitness gear, wellness goodies, and nutrition options, I thought I’d do a roundup of some of my top picks. There are a LOT of things to choose from and it can get overwhelming! Also, I’ve found that some hyped-up options have been disappointing in real life. I’m sharing my picks in the list below, and also sharing your submissions from Instagram. (Ones with a * are from Instagram responses.)

Worth the hype:

Peloton

I’ve had my Peloton for about 4 years now, and love it just as much as I did when I first got it. The bike is high-quality and I always enjoy the classes. You can check out my full review here!

Oura ring

The Oura ring is the same thing; it still brings me as much joy as I did when I purchased it. My only gripe now is that the battery life seems to work for less time and I have to charge it more frequently, but it seems to happen with most electronics after a couple of years. My full review is here.

Apple watch

The Apple watch is another thing I wear every day and love it. It does encourage me to move more throughout the day, even though sometimes I think it encourages overtraining. For example, my Oura ring will tell me I need a rest and my Apple Watch tells me to crush my next workout. I do think it’s very handy and worth the hype. Here is a post I wrote comparing the Apple watch and Fitbit alta.

Band loops

Band loops are such an inexpensive way to add additional challenge to your workouts. They’re portable, they can be used for upper body, lower body (especially outer thighs and glutes), and core. Definitely an underrated fitness tool!

Sculpt Society

These classes are SO good and so fun. I feel like I always have a smile on my face, they’re tough without being totally draining, and I love the strength series, because the movements are barre-esque and really challenge my legs and core. My link gets you a free month on the app and my full review is here!

Organifi

Organifi is 100% worth the hype. I drink at least one Organifi product every.single.day. The greens is my fave – especially because I hate cleaning the juicer but still want the benefits – but I also love the red, Gold, and Harmony. You can use this link and the code FITNESSISTA for 20% off.

* Theragun

The Theragun feels like a dream (ok, a semi-painful dream) on sore muscles. I use a similar tool as a part of my recovery and I feel like it definitely helps on the days I feel more sore.

HigherDOSE sauna blanket

This is another things that I talk about all the time, but friends, it’s WORTH it. I invested in this little beauty a couple of years ago and have used it countless times since then. We don’t have the space for a full sauna, and this is the next best thing (and I think even better because it’s portable). You can check out my full review here. My code FITNESSISTA15 for 15% off! (they’re having a promo when this post goes live, too. Get a sauna blanket and you get the travel bag + a free serotonin bath soak. Spend over $350 and get a free copper body brush.)

* Peloton app (even if you don’t have a bike)

I loved that so many people said they enjoyed the Peloton app even though they don’t have a bike. It’s pretty cost-effective if you like the vibe of a group class without the studio membership. I feel like some of the strength classes are hit or miss, but they have such a huge variety of class types and instructors; after some experimentation, you’ll definitely find one that you like! I have a post here on a full workout plan using the Peloton app if you’re looking for inspiration!

* Stanley 40oz quencher

Ok, I don’t have a Stanley cup but so many friends on IG said it’s worth the hype. I might have to go for it and get one now 😉

* Concept2 rower

We do not own this, but a couple of friends on IG said they love this rower. This is the brand we have at our gym, and it’s not super expensive (for a rower) and excellent quality. I think rowing is such a great cardio workout, especially because you’re able to use muscles in your upper body and core in a different way. Definitely check it out for a home gym option!

* Tonal

I’ve never tried Tonal but SO many people said they love it! I think it’s amazing that you can get a cable workout at home and adjust the weights, plus they have some incredible instructors. Do you have a Tonal? Do we need one???

* Normatec recovery boots

These are a bit of a splurge, but an awesome recovery tool. (We don’t own these but it was another IG suggestion!) I would definitely recommend something like this for endurance athletes as a recovery option.

* multi-compartment supplement holder

LOVE these things and another super low-cost way to make life a bit easier. You can order the one I have here!

* Under desk treadmill

A couple of friends on IG said they love theirs and as I type this sitting at my desk, I admit that I definitely want one! What a great way to get in some extra steps and movement each day.

* Garmin vivomove

This friend says, “It does everything the Apple watch can do and is cuter”

Fitness clothes that feel good and fit well. The same goes for sneakers.

There’s nothing like a comfy, functional workout outfit and pair of shoes that fit well! Here is some of my all-time favorite fitness gear: these tanks, these leggings and these leggings, these shorts, these sneakers.

TRX

I think the TRX might be the #1 underrated piece of fitness equipment. You can work your entire body, it’s portable and lightweight, and you can easily modify or progress the moves depending in your fitness level. 10/10 a huge fan. (TRX workout sample is here!)

A pull-up bar

Our pull-up bar broke but I think we need to get a new one. I’m *always* working on my pull-ups (post-kids, I’ve had a rough time getting that strength back) and you can’t improve if you don’t practice. Ours previously hang over the laundry room, so I’d do a few pull-ups in between switching out loads of laundry.

Creatine

This is in my top 5 supplements for a lot of reasons! I notice a huge difference in my performance and how I feel when I take a super small amount of creatine.

* PEMF Go Mat:

A few people agreed with me on IG that this truly is one of the best things ever. It mimics the vibrations of nature, and can be used for recovery, healing, reducing inflammation, and as a meditation tool. I use this for all of the reasons! It’s where I sit each morning to meditate (the infrared heat feels SO good on chilly winter mornings!) and will often put it on my desk chair, too. Check it out here and use FITNESSISTA15 for a discount.

Overrated:

Factor75

You guys. I ordered this for a blog post review, because I’d seen a couple of people post about it that I love (!), and it was disgusting and borderline inedible. Everything was brown and greasy; it just looked like mass-produced greasy food and not the healthy meal prep I’d had in mind.

I feel like I could make chicken and veggies here at home to be way more fresh and delicious. I tried a couple of the meals – because I had to waste food – and after the sad, brown vegan mushroom masala gave me a stomachache, the rest went in the trash. After having Sakara, nothing else really compares. (And yes, Sakara is designed to be something totally different! BUT I picture healthy protein and veggie-dense meal prep, and this was… not it.)

Ab rocker

Just don’t need it. There are a thousand more functional ways to train your core!

Gliding discs.

These can work to target your core but you can also use paper plates for freeeeeee.

* Athletic greens

I agree with this suggestion. After trying Organifi, I feel like all other greens powders taste like biting into a tree.

* A gym membership

I have mixed feelings about this one. You can absolutely get an amazing workout at home, if you’re the type of person who is motivated to work out solo. Some people truly thrive in a group environment and need the connection and community to get a great workout. Which type of person are you?? I can definitely work out at home, and do a couple of days each week, but I love the gym atmosphere, classes, and group training environment. I feel like I always work harder when I’m not at home, but will definitely do it for convenience sake.

* – Peloton; sold it to enjoy the gym atmosphere

A few people said the Peloton was overrated and they’d rather work out at the gym. I totally get that perspective, even as a Peloton fan. You’ve gotta do what works for you!

So, tell me, friends: what do you think is the most overrated and underrated fitness gear?

Anything I missed adding to the list?

Gina

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