Total body barre burner

Hi! How’s the morning going? Apologies for the blog down time yesterday! My friends at WP Site Care got it back up and running for me — I highly recommend them if you have a blog and are technology-impaired like yours truly.  

I have some fun news: I’ll be contributing to the Women’s Running blog and my first post went live yesterday! Check it out here.

Yesterday was a pretty low-key day. I was feeling low energy, and knew that a little cardio would wake me up a bit and shake out the post-BODYPUMP soreness. I did a walk-run combo and read the Kindle. I am pretty meh about the book I’m reading right now. It’s Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty, and I’ve LOVED all of her other books so far (The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot). I guess you can’t win them all. This one is filled with cattiness, bickering, and I keep waiting for something exciting to happen, and no luck. I think I’m going to call it quits and start something new. I’m notorious for quitting books halfway through, but I figure why waste your time when there are so many incredible books out there.  

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Lunch was pretty delicious, due to the return of a classic fave: eggplant bacon!

Eggplant bacon  1 of 1

I haven’t made this in so long, but my dinner with Jess a couple of weeks ago reminded me how much I love it. It’s a versatile side, and easy way to add savory crunch to wraps, salads, or to dip in hummus. I dehydrated some overnight, and after eating half of it while it was dehydrating (always happens), I crumbled the rest onto this salad.   

Salad with eggplant bacon  1 of 1

It had spinach, deli turkey (pan-seared for about a minute on each side), strawberries, blueberries, goat gouda and balsamic. Liv also enjoyed it, even though she said the eggplant bacon was “weird” haha. 

Today, I have a fun new barre workout to share! I was stoked to film it for you, and then I remembered my broken lens (my macro lens is the only one that works, and I have to hold it together to take a photo). Definitely going to remedy the camera situation today! Leaning towards the T5i because I feel the most comfortable using my Canon T1i.. even though it is tempting to think of carrying a camera that fits in my purse instead of needing an extra carseat. 

Here’s a printable/pinnable, which should still be easy to follow. Just remember full range, pulse, and hold. 🙂

Total body barre

Links to workout moves:

Pushup

Plie squat

Plie jump squats

Biceps curl

Lunges

Jumping lunges

Overhead triceps extension

Curtsy lunges

Skaters

Plank

As always, let me know if you give it a try!

Anyone else call it quits on a book lately? Latest favorite lunchtime salad combo?

Hope you have a great day,

Gina

New post up on the Family page. 

That magical time of the year is coming: Summer Shape Up is soon! Mark your calendars for June 16: 4 weeks of FREE workout plans, meal ideas, group support and giveaways are coming your way. 

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47 Comments

  1. Meaghen on May 13, 2015 at 6:33 am

    Yeaaaah summer shape up!!!

  2. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on May 13, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Congrats on the new gig with Women’s Running, Gina! Totally cool! And I’ve actually not really ever quit a book, but will take forever to finish ones that I’m not very into. I’m still reading Amy Poehler’s book and have been for a couple months. I fall asleep every time I try to read it! And I haven’t done a barre workout in forever! I need that burn. Thanks for this:)

  3. Jessie R on May 13, 2015 at 7:17 am

    I call it quits on a book if it’s just not happening, I tried getting into The Circle by Dave Eggars, but it just wasn’t happening… so I gave up. I just got the Husband’s Secret from the library so yay! I loved Big Little Lies 🙂 . I need to finish I Am Pilgrim first though. So many books, so little time!

  4. Lauren Vacula @ alovelysideproject.com on May 13, 2015 at 7:30 am

    Alright so I am intrigued with the eggplant bacon!!! What’s the recipe?

    Always looking for a good bacon sub 🙂

    xo., Lauren @ http://alovelysideproject.com

  5. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on May 13, 2015 at 8:17 am

    Blog issues scare the crap out of me! I will definitely be checking this out.

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 8:23 am

      they are beyond amazing. any problem i have and then fix it for me

  6. Britt@MyOwnBalance on May 13, 2015 at 8:32 am

    I read Three Wishes and it definitely is not as good as the other books but I still found it easy to read.

    I am currently reading The Red Tent for bookclub and quite like it. It is an untold Bible story. I’m not huge into the Bible but this book makes it interesting.

    Love the barre burner! 🙂

  7. Sara S on May 13, 2015 at 8:36 am

    great article! I am hoping to get back into running a bit…maybe 2 runs a week. Definitely looking forward to the Summer Shape Up! You always have a fun mix of workouts 🙂

  8. RachelG on May 13, 2015 at 8:49 am

    I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb is an AMAZING book. I couldn’t put it down and never even considered quitting halfway. It’s definitely a heavy read but a really well-written one. 🙂

  9. priya on May 13, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Today has been rough. Debated working out or not (I know it’ll make me feel better, but the getting started part is hard haha) so I came here, and this is perfect. Thank you x a million for putting together great workouts for the home a gym, always

  10. Cayla on May 13, 2015 at 9:41 am

    Can’t wait for shape up!!

  11. Alexandria @ Al2getherfit on May 13, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Eggplant bacon!! Totally doing this since I have an abundance of eggplant in my garden!

  12. Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed on May 13, 2015 at 9:55 am

    I am definitely a book quitter! Let me tell you though… I just started Taking Charge of Your Fertility based on you mentioning it a while ago and it is SO enlightening! Thanks for the recommendation 🙂

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      so happy you’re enjoying it!

  13. A on May 13, 2015 at 10:07 am

    Three Wishes was my least favorite of her books but it has some really interesting twists towards the end. I would recommend finishing it!

  14. Tracy on May 13, 2015 at 10:11 am

    Although a huge fan of Liane M’s books I had the same experience with Three Wishes. I actually abandoned it and went back and gave it another try…nope! Abort! And I usually don’t give up on books. I’m hoping it was an isolated occurrence and she’ll keep writing good ones!

    I need to try making eggplant bacon. I don’t eat meat any more but bacon is the one type that I really do miss! The smell! yum

  15. Tracy on May 13, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Question: I don’t have a dehydrator. Can I make the bacon in the oven?

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      yep! just put the oven on the lowest setting with the door cracked. i’d put it on greased parchment on the cookie sheet so they don’t stick

  16. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job on May 13, 2015 at 11:28 am

    I just got like 7 books in the mail bc I can’t stop collecting them! They are one of my favorite things to buy and definitely help my writing and creativity. Some of my best posts have come after an impactful book!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:37 pm

      i totally agree. i feel better writing if i’m reading something

  17. India on May 13, 2015 at 11:38 am

    Orpan Train was amazing!

    Can you describe a bit what you mean by pulse and hold? Pulse lower half or upper half? Hold in the middle?

    Have you done a post on muscle endurance vs general weight training? If not, I’d love one. I did Bodypump yesterday and was wondering if one is better than the other if I only have 2-3 workouts per week. Thanks, Gina!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      sorry i didn’t clarify that! my bad.
      to pulse, you’re going to hold the most challenging part of the movement (the concentric portion) and do small 1-2 inch movements. for the hold, just hold the most challenging part
      i haven’t done a post to compare, but i could definitely do that. i wouldn’t say that one is better than the other, but that you should do both. it’s a great way to keep your body guessing
      xoxo

  18. Tristica on May 13, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Loved your runners post! I started training for my first 1/2 marathon in Jan but sadly I got injured… Good news is I’m released to start training again.. Yay! Thanks for always being so encouraging!!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      that’s always a bummer when that happens. so happy to hear you’re doing better!

  19. Anna on May 13, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I felt the exact same way about Three Wishes. Her other book, The Hypnotists’ Love Story, is better but nowhere near Big Little Lies or The Husband’s Secret.

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      good to know! did you read what alice forgot? i really liked that one, too

      • Anna on May 13, 2015 at 5:08 pm

        Yes, What Alice Forgot was the first book I read of hers. I loved it and then went on a binge reading all of her books. Luckily I read Three Wishes last or I might not have read so many.

        I just finished Everything I Never Told you and really enjoyed it. It’s a mystery type book, but not in the sense that you’re looking for clues through it. I think you’d like it based on other books you’ve read.

  20. Melodie on May 13, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    interesting that you mentioned 3 wishes. I read that one last week on a beach vacation along with the husbands secret. it took me over half the book to get into the husbands secret. but once I did I thought it was good. so I thought 3 wishes was a better read. but yes, definitely ridiculously catty. so an author that I am just in love with has written 3 memoirs. I think you’ll love them too. Melanie Shankle is her name. Antelope in the Living Room (is about her marriage). Sparkly Green Earings (about motherhood) and Nobody’s Cuter than You (about friendship). She is hilarious in her story telling. Laugh out loud while reading hilarious. My very favorite is the Antelope in the Living Room so if you take the plunge I would start with that one. 🙂 have a great day!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:27 pm

      i will definitely check these out! thank you 🙂

  21. Blake on May 13, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Funny you mentioned Three Wishes…I’m feeling the EXACT same thing! I finished all her other books quickly and loved them – this one has been on my nightstand untouched for over a week. I just can’t seem to love it yet. I’m glad I’m not alone!

    • Fitnessista on May 13, 2015 at 3:27 pm

      glad i’m not the only one! bye, book! haha

  22. Amanda on May 13, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    That eggplant bacon looks fabulous- I can’t wait to try it!

  23. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on May 13, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    That salad looks amazing! Bummer about your book, but if it’s not doing doing it for you I wouldn’t waste your time. There’s way too many good books out there!

  24. mary on May 13, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    I tend to finish crappy books then regret it. Now I won’t go near free books Kindle recommends. I just read one from a series called Dog Park Mysteries that was so bad, they should’ve paid people to read it.

    Like you, I DID chuck Fifty Shades very early on. Barf.

  25. Jessie on May 13, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    I read 3 wishes and didn’t think it was as good as her newer books. It did take me a while to get into it. It does get better towards the end as someone else mentioned. I just finished her other book, The Last Anniversary and I almost quite it like you but this book also got better at the end. I enjoyed The Hypnotist’s Love Story a lot more than the other 2 I mentioned by her:)

    thanks for the barre workout:)!

  26. Deandrea Tolle on May 13, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    It’s sublime not just magical!

  27. Julie on May 14, 2015 at 4:50 am

    How far through Three Wishes are you? Things definitely get interesting a little over halfway, but it did drag on there for awhile. Maybe take a break and pick it back up in a bit!

  28. Jessie R on May 14, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    OH THE BURN! I just did this workout WHOA NELLY! THE BURN! During the bicep curl hold, I wanted to slice off my arms! According to my Fitbit Charge HR I burned about 195 calories in 38 minutes, that’s with a 5 min warmup and 5 min cool down, Thanks for a great workout!

  29. Elizabeth on May 14, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    I would also say stick with Three Wishes. It definitely isn’t as good as her other books but it gets better.

  30. Wendy Heath on May 17, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    I am SOOOO excited for SSU! 🙂 Can’t wait!

  31. Molly on May 23, 2015 at 9:41 am

    This may be a silly question…?!! Do you complete the workout just once? Or do it like 2-3x?
    Thank you!

  32. Emily on June 12, 2015 at 4:35 am

    Great workout! Can’t wait for summer shape up!

    One question…When you post workouts like this, should I go through the plan more than once? This one took me 20 minutes. Should I do more?

  33. mayacook on August 10, 2015 at 11:38 pm

    Great workout!! I’m back from a sprained ankle, not running again yet and it was challenging (so much that one roun will be enough for me…)

  34. Sarah-Joy on August 18, 2015 at 1:18 am

    Just did this workout and it kicked my butt – love it! The hardest part is always getting started…

  35. Emily on August 20, 2015 at 3:53 am

    Completed this workout today! Wow, sweaty! I didn’t have much motivation today so that was a perfect 20 minute workout to help me get something done!

  36. Lauren on July 24, 2016 at 11:36 am

    Hi Gina! My sister and I are on vacation in Hawaii (with limited WiFi), so we decided to do this Total-Body Barre Burner and it was fantastic 🙂 thanks so much for sharing!!

    • Fitnessista on July 25, 2016 at 3:32 pm

      yay, so happy to hear you liked it! hope you’re having a blast in hawaii 🙂

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