Schmear it with AB

Hiiiiiiii guys 🙂 How’s your Friday going?? Hope it’s been bueno- I’ve been a busy bee today 😀

This morning, I woke up before the sun to meet my Lifestyle Challenge group.

Munched a nanner on the way:

nanner

Today we talked about Exercise Myths and why they’re false, including:

1. Restricting calories is the way to lose fat (Quite the contrary, it elicits an “I’m starving!!!” response and causes the body to hold onto fat, in case it needs it for the winter. Your body is an engine that needs FUEL to do its thang!)

2. Crunches will give you a six pack (Nope. That’s why Joe, who does 500 crunches a day and doesn’t eat well or do cardio doesn’t have a six pack. You need a combo of healthy eats, cardio and minimal toning work for lovely abbies)

3. You can make fat cells disappear (While you can reduce the size of fat cells, they never actually go away)

4. All you really need to focus on is cardio (It’s all about balance. The best fitness plans combine resistance training, cardio, flexibility and REST. I really consider rest to be the most important- at least one day a week should be for active recovery to refresh, let your muscles repair and prevent overtraining)

I seriously love meeting with my group – they ask awesome questions and we have a blasty. Then my friend Tracy (another trainer) kicked their booties in a bootcamp-style workout. I hopped on the elliptical and read Oprah 🙂

After work, I took the pilot some pancakes (and traded him for a Larabar that he had in his flight bag, haha) and then came back to the casa to answer emails.

I may have had a roon:

roon

What makes a ridiculously delicious macaroon even better? An almond butter hat 🙂

Next, I hit up “The Barrel” to get a book on CD for the drive to Orlando.

IMG00153-20100402-1254

(I couldn’t help but think of my “izzle”-quoting, fitness-teaching, soulmate blog boy buddy)

It’s not Edward and Bella, but it will have to do 😉

the host 

Any good?

I also picked up this little beauty, per your recommendations.

the help

I’m so excited to read it!

Since I was, umm, in the area… I had to get a smoothie from my favorite place 😀

IMG00151-20100401-1158

Tropical Superfood with extra spinach.

Ahhhhmazing.

The pilot is home early from work (yeahhhhh!) so we’re going to walk these funny little things.

dogs

Peeeeeeace 🙂

xoxo

G$

Today’s tip: As pool weather is quickly approaching, remember to slather on some SPF if you’re going to be poolside and re-apply as necessary. I wear at least SPF 30 on a daily basis, but when I’m at the pool, it’s SPF 70. Show your skin some lurve <3

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64 Comments

  1. Heather (Heather's Dish) on April 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    great tips Gina! and that ‘roon’s almond butter hat is so cute 🙂 hope your trip to orlando goes well! travel carefully!

  2. Daisy on April 2, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    Thanks for the SPF tip – I’m constantly harping on my friends from under my sun hat & tossing bottles of 50+ their way. I hope they listen to you 🙂

  3. Chloe (Naturally Frugal) on April 2, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Oh how I love spreading nut butter all over delicious foods. I just might have to go out and get a banana right now for an afternoon snack with a schmear of peanut butter. Love your tips, they’re great!

  4. NySoonerGirl on April 2, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Loved The Host! Just don’t go into it expecting Edward and Bella… It’s completely different! Drive safe!

  5. Erica on April 2, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    It always surprises me how many people don’t know #2! Have fun on your walk 🙂

  6. Sarah @ THE FOODIE DIARIES on April 2, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    oooh i always get lost in the cracker barrel store!! it’s so cute! my familia always would take road trips from NYC to Fla in the summer and we’d always stop at the barrel for bfast (oooooof!). and i always bought like 29382982929 of those candy cane-ish things. made for very hyperactive car rides haha

  7. Catherine on April 2, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Excellent tips Gina – especially like that you mention wearing sunscreen! I was once a culprit in the whole tanning thang, but I’m a huge proponent of sunscreen and cute floppy summer hats now. Don’t want to look 44 when I’m only 24!

  8. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on April 2, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Love your tips, girl! Have a nice night with the Pilot. 🙂

  9. Diana on April 2, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    I’ve so been craving a green smoothie. I’ll make one tomorrow 😀

  10. Bethany (Not Unless I'm Being Chased) on April 2, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    I LOVED The Help. I passed it off to my mother, who passed it to my sister. Now that’s the mark of a good read!
    Have a great weekend 🙂

  11. sarah on April 2, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    OMG GINA. I looooooooved The Host. Loved it. I hope you do too! You will. 🙂

  12. Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA on April 2, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    Great post, ma dear!!! Wonderful and true tips 🙂 Glad you are feeling better today and back to your upbeat Fitnessista-self! 😉

    Have a great weekend!!! <3

    xx,

    Lauren

  13. Jenna on April 2, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Thanks for the SPF reminder. I am headed to Mexico in a week and need to stock up!

  14. RhodeyGirl on April 2, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    My hubbie is coming home early today too yipppeeee! In case I don’t have the chance to say it- Happy Easter!

  15. Lindsay (Waking Up Hungry) on April 2, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    OMG your post made me so excited when I saw your reading list!! I loved BOTH books immensely! The Host was a little hard to get into at first, but I started it as soon as shutting the hard cover of Breaking Dawn. It paid off to finish it though, excellent! The Help, was another one of my favorites!!

    Let me recommend another book you should definalty read. “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein will hold a special place with me for a long, long time!

    Enjoy and have a great weekend!

  16. Nicole on April 2, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Oh man- sunscreen… Hubby and I went to Jamaica a couple years back and I didn’t wear it one time and never got burned the whole week there. Fast forward 2 years- we went to Cancun and I thought it would be the same (don’t know what I was thinking). I got so burned I ruined our whole week. One day of jumping waves in the ocean and I looked like a complete lobster. So out the door went our plans for parasailing and jetskiing. From now on I use 50+ and if I ever find my way back to Mexico again it will be 100SPF.

  17. Kelly on April 2, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    The Host is soooo good. When you first start listening to it, it’s a little weird, but stick with it because it is such a GREAT story. I can’t wait for the sequel!! Enjoy!

  18. Jenn (eating bender) on April 2, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    I wonder how The Host will be on audiotape! For me, it was a good read but I didn’t start getting into it until it was about halfway over. Hopefully the audio will make it more intriguing 🙂

    Love your ‘roon smeared with AB!

  19. Ryane on April 2, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    Gahhhhh your pups are so cute!

  20. Karyn on April 2, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    sunscreen is something i’m terrible about. but it’s one of my 2010 goals to do more! i read the host last summer and found it “eh”. it was a decent read but i never found myself not wanting to put it down. my sister, though, freaking LOVED it.

  21. Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat) on April 2, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    I’m reading The Host right now!! It was a slow start but now I’m really into it!

  22. kathleen on April 2, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Personally I loved the host. I recommend giving it a little time to warm up and by the end you won’t be able to put it down!

  23. Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind on April 2, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Love that you covered the restricting calories myth. I think it’s a biggie as far as things people need to remember when dieting/trying to lose weight/trying to maintain weight/etc., because it seems SO counterintuitive.

    I like the six pack myth, too. Also the opposite of what one would think at first.

    Have fun in Orlandy! 🙂

  24. Allison @ Food For Healing on April 2, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Enjoy your weekend! We’re at the inlaws for easter supper tonight. Going to behave as much as possible with my food choices ha. lots of chocolate sitting around already, so it will be quite hard I think. But I am taking pills that are supposed to help my sugar cravings, soo i might just do ALRIGHT. ha
    take care

    Hoppy Easter from Food For Healing

  25. Angie on April 2, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    The Host is a weird book, but AMAZING. It’s nothing compared to the Edward and Bella saga’s, but it is really good.

  26. Andrea on April 2, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    I loved The Help! Enjoy it!

  27. kellyO on April 2, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Off topic here – I can’t believe you got grief for your pulled pork sandwich! Loved the post and love you!

  28. Kelly J on April 2, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    Seems like everyone has the same opinion about the host……It took me a few chapters to get into it. It seemed like such a strange story but I ended up loving it……Not quite as much as Twilight though.

  29. Jenny on April 2, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    Those tips are bueno! And helping me out today:)

  30. LisaG on April 2, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    You’ll like the help. I couldve loaned it to you. I enjoyed the pilots post- awesomeness!

  31. AnneW on April 2, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    Post what you think of The Help!!! It took me a little while to get into it, but by the middle and through the end I was LOVING it!!

  32. Teri [a foodie stays fit] on April 2, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    I really liked The Host. It has a similar plot to the Twilight series, but it was fun.

    Guess what I just rented. New Moon! Am I the last one to see it??

  33. Manda on April 2, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    O–M–G! I love The Host!! It is one of my favorite books. I hope you like it. I will have to invest in The Help though 😉 Have a great trip!

  34. Jennie {in Wonderland} on April 2, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    My spoons often wear peanut butter hats 😉 But not for long!

  35. eatdrinkandbemerrynyc on April 2, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    LOVE the tips you gave your lifestyle group!!! Fabulous
    Sara

  36. Lauren on April 2, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    I used to work for a major skin products company and I talked to the product scientists once — anything above 30 SPF is pure marketing BS. The $ you’re paying is just mark-up.

    • Fitnessista on April 2, 2010 at 10:09 pm

      really? i read that it was above spf 50… either way, i just play it safe. most of the spf’s on there now are crazy high numbers anyway (like 100! what?!)

      • Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA on April 2, 2010 at 10:20 pm

        There is a difference between 30 and 50 but I’m not sure over 50. I used to do melanoma research and we would use varying concentrations from 4 to 45 and there was a difference. Either way, better safe than sorry 🙂

  37. Ashley on April 2, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    I liked The Host! I’m into the sci fi alien thing though.

  38. Michelle on April 2, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    I enjoyed that book, ‘the host’, I read a lot, and like a good variety of books, but I really don’t like it when people ‘Over Kill’ the books. (read The Edward Craze). I hope you enjoy this book too 🙂

    P.S. I Love Sunscreen!! 🙂

  39. Claire on April 2, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    That book is SOOOO good! What’s even more fun is driving down those streets (yep, I live there) and wondering which house Hilly lived in and where Abilene was. I drive down Woodrow Wilson daily!

    • christin on April 3, 2010 at 12:03 am

      Claire, how funny! I live in Jackson too and I did the same thing! It also talked about State St (I think it’s the part about Medgar Evers)and I drive down State to work every day (work at UMC) and I look around and try and guess where ’bouts she was talking about. Small world!!

  40. Noa@LiveLifeEatRight on April 2, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    I love ANYTHING with almond butter. I love your blog!!! I usually go straight to the jar with a spoon….I just cant help myself!!!

  41. JenSanders52 on April 2, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    Your roon’s Almond Butter hat looks delish!!! I’ve just recently started listening to books on CD, and I love it! It makes the ride go so much faster. However, sometimes I don’t want to get out of the car 😉

  42. Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) on April 2, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    The Host was a bit bizarre and took me a while to get into it. However, The Help was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I think you’ll love it. 🙂

  43. Jaclyn on April 2, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Question–how long did you spend on the ET? Do you do core/abs/stretching w/ it or simply cardio days=cardio only?

    • Fitnessista on April 3, 2010 at 4:53 pm

      that day i did 50 minutes, easy and no strength training that day. i usually do, but didn’t feel like it 😉

  44. Adrienne on April 3, 2010 at 12:57 am

    THE HOST! =] =] =] Once I saw the picture I had to run down to comment. Don’t worry, I’ll finish reading the post after, haha.

    I’ll have to admit, The Host was REALLY hard to get into (think 150 ish pages to get into it), but don’t get discouraged! It really picks up and once you get into it, it’s EXCELLENT. Don’t go into it thinking Edward and Bella at all. It’s competely different! You won’t be able to put it down. I’ve read it twice since! Please let me know what you think about it after you’ve finished!

  45. Crystal on April 3, 2010 at 3:18 am

    Almond butter makes anything taste so much more awesome! I like mixing it with jelly to avoid that tact-like feeling on the roof of my mouth.

  46. Katherine on April 3, 2010 at 8:01 am

    Cracker Barrel… oh my goodness

  47. Alexis on April 3, 2010 at 8:27 am

    The Host is awesome — like others have said, it takes a while to get rolling, though. I tore through the last part of the book!

  48. Carolyn @ lovinlosing.com on April 3, 2010 at 10:17 am

    I’ve read BOTH of those books and they are BOTH really good. The Host is nothing like the Twilight series, actually it’s MUCH better. Take a little while to get into but it’s worth it. The Help was fantastic!!!

  49. mmclaughlin on April 3, 2010 at 10:42 am

    I loved The Help!! I read it back in January and have been meaning to put up a review of it since then – I think you’ve inspired me for what I’m going to do today 🙂

  50. Andrea (Off Her Cork) on April 3, 2010 at 10:44 am

    I read The Help and it’s an amazing book. Seriously one of the best I’ve read in a very long time.

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