Back at it + a new Zumba playlist

Afternoon pho. The best kind 😉

Pho  1 of 1 2

Pho hack: I saved some of the broth from takeout -they always give us extra- and added cooked chicken, more cilantro, sriracha, and boiled TJ’s rice noodles. Speaking of the chicken, it’s probably the best chicken I’ve ever made.

This is the recipe. It’s super easy, makes the house smell AMAZING, and the leftovers have been the perfect addition to salads and today’s pho.

Roast chicken  1 of 1

My only regret: not making an entire bag of carrots. (I was saving some to use for juices.) They soaked up the broth and Livi and I finished them before we even cut into the chicken. So good.

Today has been a fairly productive day, and I’m kind of nervous because it’s my first night teaching Zumba again. I picked up one class per week, and am so excited to get back into it! It’s at a studio I’ve never attended, which is silly because they have incredible class offerings, so I have no idea what the demographic will be or how many Zumbies I’ll have.

I decided to play it safe with tonight’s playlist until I get a better idea of the class, and focus on some classic faves + a couple of new songs.

Here’s tonight’s playlist:

Playlist

(Still need to add a bellydance song from a CD)

Fingers crossed that no disasters occur 😉

One more full day to enter the Blue Diamond giveaway!

Blue diamond  1 of 1 5

Hope you have a great night <3 

xoxo

Gina

When was the last time you got back into something? Is there a hobby or profession you could never see yourself doing again? My days as a gymnast were very limited. I did gymnastics throughout elementary school, but was told I was “too tall” since I was always the tallest girl in my class. Then, I stopped growing…

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46 Comments

  1. Christine@ Apple of My Eye on January 15, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    That pho looks SO good! I’m going to a Vietnamese restaurant tonight and am thinking that it would be great for dinner 🙂

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:04 am

      did you do it? or something different? 🙂

  2. Kelly on January 15, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Excited to hear how Zumba goes. The track list looks like a winner! I’m loving Bouje in our class right now.

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:01 am

      it was my first time doing bouje… i totally ended up making something up for one part haha. class was a lot of fun, though!!

  3. Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs on January 15, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    I did Zumba today for the first time (I did one of the dvds with a co-worker) — it was so fun! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:00 am

      i’m glad you liked it!!

  4. Bonnie on January 15, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    Love that pho hack! Makes me want to order some soon!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:00 am

      dooooo it 🙂 so good!

  5. Jackie on January 15, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    I just got back into spinning!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:00 am

      awesome 🙂

  6. Sara @ LovingOnTheRun on January 15, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    I was out from running for almost 5 months with a femoral stress fracture and I am just now “getting back into it” and finally feeling more like my former running self again!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:00 am

      that’s amazing!!! sending lots of good running vibes to you

  7. Michele on January 15, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Take On Me is currently my favorite Zumba song! Good luck with the class! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 12:00 am

      thank you! i love that one too 🙂

  8. Michele on January 15, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Oh and that chicken looks delicious! I haven’t roasted a chicken in forever but I think it’s going to happen soon!

  9. Juliana on January 15, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    I just started doing yoga again, which is super exciting to me because I haven’t been able to for 5-6ish years because of a shoulder injury/surgery/partially tearing the repair/trying to avoid more surgery. It’s been REALLY slow going, but at least it’s going! The first time I was able to do one sun salutation all the way through was pretty much the happiest day ever. You never realize how much your shoulders do for you until you don’t get to use one of them very much for 5 years.

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:59 pm

      awww i’m so glad you’ve been able to get back into it. yoga is amazing

  10. Lauren @ Fun, Fit and Fabulous! on January 15, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    I love your Zumba playlist. I haven’t taught it in awhile, but it was always so much fun making up new playlists and picking my favorite songs! They’ll love you!

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:58 pm

      thank you! it’s fun to make new playlists for zumba. class was a blast 🙂 hope you’re having a great week!

  11. Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift on January 15, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Ahhhh, have fun with Zumba! SO wish I could take one of your classes!

    I used to play volleyball, and have these wonderful hopes of going back to it better than ever…and then I play a pickup game, and those hopes are dashed. Violently. Haha. But it’s so fun that I *almost* don’t care!

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:58 pm

      hey, fun is all that matters. ok, and not getting hit in the face with a volleyball (<-- my last volleyball experience haha)

  12. Erin on January 15, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    I want to try the wasabi almonds!

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      wrong post! 🙂

  13. Livi on January 15, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    good luck back at class! that’s exciting!

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      thank you! it was so much fun 🙂

  14. Yaara Leve on January 15, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    That chick looks so damn good!! You are brave for conquering a whole bugger. I’ve always wanted to roast a whole chck–but digging out the innards kind of skeeves me out!! I used to be a competitive figure skater throughout my childhood and early teen years and I’ve deeply missed it. I miss flowing and dancing on the ice and performing in shows. Now that the Winter Olympics are on I watch the figure skating with longing. But it’s also a tremendously hard and competitive lifestyle that traps you in many ways so I’m happy I’m beyond that point in my life. Good luck with zumba tonight!! You’re gonna rock it I’m sure!

    • Fitnessista on January 15, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      thank you!
      i’ve always wanted to try figure skating 🙂

  15. Karen @ Fruitspire on January 16, 2014 at 12:22 am

    Congrats on being back to Zumba. Love “Be My Baby” reminds me of the movie Dirty Dancing.

  16. Laura B @ FitMamaLove on January 16, 2014 at 12:35 am

    Hope Zumba went well for you! And now I want a roasted chicken.:)

  17. Jacqueline on January 16, 2014 at 12:55 am

    I didn’t ask for them, but my family gave me a bunch of candles for Christmas, so I’m getting back into the habit of enjoying one while reading with a cup of tea before bed! It’s definitely a more enjoyable bedtime routine than Facebooking until I pass out :p

  18. CourtStar @ StarSystemzFitness on January 16, 2014 at 2:28 am

    I LOVE PHO! I frequent Vietnam both North + South and while visiting I eat Pho for all three meals, its so FILLING + so delish with all the amazing herbs. Never thought to use the broth but what an incredible idea! lots of love C

  19. Cassie Vaughn on January 16, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    I always get a little nervous at the beginning of each new semester. I’m an Algebra I teacher.

  20. april on January 16, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    i hope your first zumba class went well! i’ve always wanted to try zumba and would love to take one of your classes someday. 🙂

    that pho looks so warm and comforting… yum!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 5:29 pm

      i hope you can, too!! 🙂

  21. Stacey on January 16, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    So glad you are getting back to teaching. My ladies love “Bouje”, they’re always asking for it. And I just added “Take on Me” back into my playlist this weekend too. Hope it went well!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 5:28 pm

      thank you! it was so much fun 🙂 “bouje” is such a great song

  22. Shaina Anderson on January 16, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    I saved pho broth from the other night too and was brainstorming what to add! So simple, yet so yummy. That chicken looks delish too! I got a 5 lb bag of carrots last week and have been juicing them like crazy but there’s pleeeeenty left, so maybe we’ll do that. 🙂

    I need to pick it up with soli beat so I’m ready for your zumba classes haha.

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 5:28 pm

      hahah YES 🙂

  23. Alissa on January 16, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Any chance you’ll post your Want Dem All choreography? I like the song, but am uninspired! BTW – you and I picked the same songs from that ZIN DVD!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      sure, it’s just a warm up but i could post it!
      ZIN twinsies! 🙂 i really love the live class! liv does it with me sometimes, too

      • Alissa on January 16, 2014 at 6:54 pm

        That’s funny…my 18 mo girl practices Zumba with me all the time. My husband thinks there is no possible way that she will not be a dancer. Fine with me!

        • Fitnessista on January 17, 2014 at 12:28 am

          amen 🙂

  24. Tess J on January 16, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    I am LOVING that Prrrum by cosculleula!It’s making my booty shake!

    • Fitnessista on January 16, 2014 at 5:36 pm

      that’s one of my all-time faves 🙂

  25. Mandy Dugas on March 14, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    Gina!!

    That’s so cool that your a Zumba instructor. I LOVE ZUMBA. You are honestly one fit hot mama! Do you have an email adress where I contact you personally?

    • Fitnessista on March 15, 2014 at 2:39 pm

      thank you! fitnessista at gmail dot com

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