I haven’t really blogged about my workouts and daily routine since marathon training so I figured I’d check in and talk about what my fitness/health focus is looking like now that summer’s here.
The Summer (Lack of) Routine
Between two moves (into a temporary place for July & August and then again into a more permanent apartment in September), weddings and weekend trips to the beach, this summer–like all summers–is all over the place for me. During the week I workout everyday and then during the weekend I just shift my focus to being active. A hike, long walks, playing beach games, etc. If a workout happens, great, if not, no sweat (pun intended).
TIP: Embrace HIIT! You can get an effective workout in limited time with high intensity interval training. Set aside 20 minutes in the morning to workout then get on with enjoying your summer day. Check out the 12-minute bodyweight tabata series I posted last month for ideas.
Group Fitness Classes, Yes Please!
On mornings that I teach, I honestly have zero motivation to push myself through a workout after instructing two or three back-to-back classes. I like to go to a studio and have someone else tell me what to do. Currently I’ve been taking boxing classes at Title and Everybody Fights (I box once or twice a week), my beloved Btone (duh), yoga at YogaWorks and Karma and the occasional spin class at Recycle or Soul Cycle. I increased my ClassPass membership to the 10 classes/month option so that I can go to most of those studios (YogaWorks and SoulCycle are the only two not on CP).
TIP: If you haven’t tried ClassPass, you can get $20 off your first month with my referral link.
Forming a Meditation Habit
I’ve mentioned meditation a few times on the blog, but as beneficial as it is for me, I unfortunately haven’t gotten into the habit of doing it regularly. I’ll go on streaks of several days in a row then totally forget about it for a week. The best way for me to get the habit to stick would be to do it first thing in the morning each day, but … three days a week, I teach first thing in the morning and don’t have time to meditate beforehand.
This is something I know I will benefit from doing regularly so I’m committing to a sort of challenge throughout the summer months, meditating every day and keeping a journal of sorts to hold myself accountable. I’ll share how it went on the blog at the end of the month (spoiler alert: not pretty haha).
TIP: If you’re new to meditation, download the Headspace app. The first 10 guided sessions are free and only 10 minutes long. I found it was a great place for me to start!
MegaFood Blood Builder
85% of my diet is very nutrient-dense plant foods, so I don’t feel that I need to supplement my diet heavily. That’s actually why I was excited to work with MegaFood–they’re a supplement company that uses high quality food sources. The message isn’t “Take this pill so you don’t have to worry about what you eat!” but rather “Let’s get more of the real, wholesome food nourishment our bodies need!”
What I do regularly supplement my diet with are the following:
- B-12 – I eat very little meat so I take B-12.
- Iron – During my period I make sure to supplement my diet so my energy levels don’t completely plummet.*
- Vitamin D – Not a concern during these summer months, but I make sure to get it in supplement form in the winter.
Usually a good multi-vitamin will cover those needs for me, but I recently was introduced to MegaFood’s Blood Builder and it’s seriously like it was crafted with me specifically in mind. It contains Iron, Vitamin C (Iron is more easily utilized by our body if in the presence of Vitamin C), Vitamin B-12, Folate and Beet Root. I think most women feel a little sluggish during the first day of their period, but oh man. It’s like I get completely zapped of every ounce of energy, and my low iron levels definitely play a part in that. I notice a definite difference when I take an iron supplement like Blood Builder during that time of the month.* I can actually workout and teach a class without being a total zombie.
TIP: Ladies! If you have low iron levels, the sluggishness and low-energy side effects can be especially intense during your period. If you’re not into taking a daily supplement, just try an iron supplement during the first few days of your period–it can make a big difference with energy levels.*
What’s your summer health and fitness routine looking like?
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with MegaFood. All opinions–as always!–are my own. I appreciate your support of the brands that make this blog possible! 🙂
Hey there! I'm Nicole, a group fitness instructor, healthy lifestyle blogger (you probably figured that one out by now) and Certified Personal Trainer living in Boston, MA.
I’ve been anemic for like…ever, so I bought the Blood Builder on Amazon after reading your last post. I take iron every single day but this one sounds awesome because of all the other things included (like vitamin C!) so thanks for the recommendation!
Meditation is so important. Even remembering to watch your breath during the day.
Sounds like a great way to approach the summer! I am training for a fall marathon so my summer workout schedule has been pretty structured… it’s been interesting compared to training for a marathon in the winter/spring! Tough to balance all the fun summer activities but nice not always having to run in the pouring rain.