About The Fitnessista

My name is Gina- I’m so happy you’re here.

On this blog, I like to share some daily happenings, as well as quick, effective workouts and healthy recipes.

About The Fitnessista

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I started writing The Fitnessista when we were living in Valdosta, Georgia. I was in maintenance mode after losing 40 lbs, but healthy options were pretty scarce. Going to Whole Foods in Orlando was a vacation in itself, and the little things, like being able to harvest my own organic produce made me scary excited. The blog was a little way to share healthy recipes and workouts with some of my personal training clients and since the beginning, a lot has changed:

Caprese salad

-My eating style. I started off the blog eating “diet foods” and eventually transitioned to more whole, unprocessed foods. I also experimented with pescatarianism but went back to eating chicken a couple of years later. Today I like to focus on lean protein, fruits, veggies, grains (I prefer to eat gluten-free), chocolate, wine and all the fun stuff sprinkled in.

-Our location. We travel and move fairly often and are currently stationed in San Diego, CA. Living here is absolutely dreamy, and we’re having fun exploring and living like tourists until our next move in 2016 or early 2017. So far, we’ve lived in Fayetteville, NC, Valdosta, GA, and Tucson, AZ.  It’s been a fun and exciting adventure to see new parts of the world. Oh, and the honeymoon feeling? It never goes away.

Us at airport

We’ll be headed to Tucson for a few months this winter, then BACK to Valdosta Spring 2017.

-Our family. We started off as The Pilot (the love of my life I met at Starbucks), Bella (our maltipoo) and myself. In January 2012, we welcomed our daughter Olivia into our family. After dreaming about her for years, meeting her and having her in our life was even better than we imagined. You can read more about our family adventures, the pregnancy, birth, and musings as a new mom over on the family page.

Bellandbaby1

In October 2015, we welcomed our second daughter, Penelope, into the world. Our family is complete with our two little ladies, and I feel so lucky to be their mama.

004 baby girl p sneak peek {photography by jacquelynn buck}

-My jobs. Since we move so frequently, I’ve changed jobs along with our location. I went from working in retail management to personal training and group fitness instruction, which is my passion. I’ve taught at a world-renowned health resort, private training studio, at brand events, and at local fitness clubs and studios. My #1 job is being a wife and mama, in addition to wrangling puppies and blogging my little heart out.

down-dog-1-of-1

Certifications:

AFAA certified group fitness instructor

NASM certified personal trainer

NASM weight loss specialist

NASM Women’s Fitness Specialist

Precision Nutrition Level One Coach

Barre Body instructor

200-hour RYT yoga instructor

Zumba licensed, Aqua Zumba licensed and ZIN member (2008-2015)

Les Mills BODYPUMP certified instructor

Level 1 Raw Foods Chef (105degrees)

I try my best to respond to every comment and email I receive. If I happen to miss yours, please leave a comment on a recent post, send me a tweet or hit me up on Facebook! I apologize that I’m unable to create personalized workout training plans and provide nutritional consultations at this time. If that’s what you’re looking for, be sure to seek out the help of a local personal trainer and/or Registered Dietitian.

Occasionally I will do sponsored posts or giveaways on the blog if it’s a company/product I truly love. It helps me to support my family and cover the expenses to keep this blog running. If a post is sponsored, I will clearly label it. As always, all opinions are my own. You may see some Amazon affiliate links or ShopStyle links on the blog. These do not affect the purchase price and allow me to earn a very small commission. Thank you so much for supporting this awesome community <3

Interested in sponsoring or banner advertisements? Send me an email at fitnessistasponsor at gmail dot com for a media kit and current rates.

You can “Like” The Fitnessista on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and pictures. Snapchat: fitnessista

Also, check out my eBook here for all of my blog-related tips, + my first health and fitness book, “HIIT It!” (Demos Health 2015), available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. My full postpartum fitness plan is available here. 

Thank you so much for reading!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor or Registered Dietitian. The information presented is purely to share my experience and for entertainment purposes. As always, check with a doctor before making any fitness or nutrition changes. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any activities or ideas from this site. 

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624 Comments

  1. brandi on September 6, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter

  2. Denise on September 8, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog! I’m definitely going to order Sage Dance Fitness. It looks awesome. I’d like to sign up for your newsletter please. Thanks!

  3. Susan on September 8, 2013 at 4:47 pm

    I love your blog!

    Please sign me up for your newsletter.

    Thank you!

  4. Sarah on September 15, 2013 at 11:34 am

    Hi Gina, I have followed your blog for years now and use the short (usually 5-10 minute) barre burners you post. Within the last couple of weeks the videos are not working– I click on them and it says the video is private. Have you changed the way you are doing these?
    Thanks!

  5. Josh Crosby on September 18, 2013 at 9:12 am

    Nice job on your blog. Well done. Let me know what rowers you ended up getting as I am curious. I hope they were the best ones… WaterRower! 🙂

  6. Mary Venus on September 18, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Sign me up, please!

  7. Katie on September 22, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    Add to mailing

  8. Lacy McCaig on September 22, 2013 at 10:40 pm

    I am a college student majoring in Nutrition/Dietetics that is trying to eat healthy on a budget. I have done well the past three weeks and hope to keep it up. I like to check out fitness blogs such as yours to get new recipe ideas to try. I have already seen some things I like! I did the 10-minute stress relieving yoga about an hour ago, and it felt great. Thanks for sharing your tips!

  9. Nicky B on September 23, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Hi Gina, I’d love to email you over a few things. What’s the best email to reach you?

  10. Valerie on September 23, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter!

  11. Meaghan on September 26, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    Gina,

    I started reading your blog a few months back. I have made a ton of your recipes, and tried a ton of your workouts (LOVE the monsoon workout and the Tabatas).

    I just wanted to say thank you! You always put a smile on my face.

    As I said, I’ve been reading for a few months, and I have never commented. I decided to comment because in flipping through old posts I’ve seen a few ugly comments- most readers agree how awesome you and the blog are, but some people have just been cruel.

    I wanted you to know the majority love the blog and love the message you are sending. I’m willing to bet the not-so-nice commentators who call you extreme or try and tear you down are just jealous, unhealthy, out of shape, wanna-bees hiding behind their computers ; )

    PS. You even inspired me to do my first race- the Disney Half in January!

    • Fitnessista on September 26, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      thank you so much, meaghan! made my day.
      hope you have a blast doing the disney half– their races are the best
      xo

  12. Sara on September 29, 2013 at 11:46 am

    Hey Gina, I would love to email you! I am a new air force wife. My husband just finished pilot training and we’re headed to Charleston, he’ll be flying C-17s. I have my own art business but I’ve always had a passion for fitness and LOVE fitness classes. I’m curious how you balance everything- family life, fitness, hanging out with friends, military events… everything! I’m really thinking about getting a fitness group certification but am scared that I’ll just overload myself. Any advice would be great 🙂 I’m so glad I ran into your blog!
    Thanks, Sara

  13. Jennifer Gorczany on October 4, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    Hi Gina:

    I love your monthly workouts and have lost 10 pounds so far using them….(2 months) Are you going to publish one for October? I like how varied they are….

    If not, can I contact you about them offline? I could not find an email besides one about sponsorships…

    Thx,
    Jennifer

    • Fitnessista on October 4, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      hi jennifer! i’m so happy you’ve been enjoying them. i haven’t received much feedback on them, and they’re a lot of work, so i skipped it for this month. if you need help setting up a plan, email me (fitnessista at gmail) and we can figure something out! xoxo

  14. Jennifer Gorczany on October 4, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    Thanks, Gina! I just emailed you.

    Thx
    Jenn

  15. Jennifer on October 8, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    I really love your blog, especially the Family page. 🙂 I am looking at cribs and I am loving yours and actually found it online at Babys R Us. I was wondering if you would recommend the crib or if there was anything you didn’t like about it. It is a huge purchase, so I want to make sure.

    • Fitnessista on October 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      we’ve absolutely loved it, and will use it for the next kiddo too! hope you love it 🙂

  16. Angela on October 25, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter

  17. Chrissi on October 27, 2013 at 10:04 pm

    I’d love to sign up for your newsletter. I just stumbled on to you from Pinterest I think. I love it!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2013 at 1:15 am

      thank you, chrissi! 🙂

  18. Angela on October 29, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    I would love your newsletter!

  19. Thea on October 30, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    I just started following you and love everything …. Excited to be part of the newsletter!!!

  20. Caitlin on October 30, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    Hi! I’d love to receive your newsletter!

  21. Marc on October 30, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    I’d like to subscribe! Love your site! 🙂

    • Marci on October 30, 2013 at 7:01 pm

      It’s Marci, not “Marc”. Oops

  22. Marci on October 30, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    Sorry! Would like to subscribe! May have left this message already! 🙂

  23. Nat on October 30, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    Just read the news that you’re moving to San Diego! Preliminary welcome! (I just shared the news with him as I refer to you and your husband as the blogger whose husband is in the AF). We stayed on the Tuson base over the summer and I referenced you then too and thought, how cool, Gina and PIlot live/work in this community! So, welcome again!

  24. Emily on November 1, 2013 at 5:58 am

    Hi Gina,

    I’m interested in the ‘knockoutnovember’ workout and would also like to sign up for the newsletter.

    I also wanted to say that in my quest to find the best place to ask about the november workout, I got distracted by the rather rude comment about the ‘nachos’ and just wanted to add my support for what you’re doing and the options you expose your family and blog-followers like me to.

    Kind Regards,
    E

  25. Amanda on November 1, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    I would like to sign up for your newsletter please!!!

    thanks!!! Love your blog!

  26. Heather on November 1, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Really enjoy your blog! Would love to be on your newsletter and get the password for the November workout calendar.

    -Heather

  27. Naomi on November 1, 2013 at 5:26 pm

    Just came across your blog, and I love it!!
    Becoming a daily read 🙂

    I would love to sign up for the newsletter. Thanks!!

  28. Nessey on November 2, 2013 at 12:33 am

    I love reading your blog and I would love to receive your newsletter! 🙂

  29. Bre Pop on November 2, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Love your blog! Excited for the newsletter 🙂

  30. Laura on November 2, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    Great Blog!

  31. Valerie on November 5, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    I would love to receive your newsletter.

  32. Erika on November 6, 2013 at 12:57 am

    My girlfriend loves your workouts! Can’t wait to get your news letters!

  33. Stephanie on November 7, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter.

  34. Melissa Corp on November 9, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Hello Gina,
    My name is Melissa Corp, 54 year old single mother of 4, dedicated runner, fitness enthusiast and entreprenuer. I have recently launched a business, ” My Soxy Feet” designing and selling high quality, fun and mismatched athletic socks, Made in the USA! The structure and contents of the sock are perfect for runners, all athletic events , as well as comfy enough for leisure. They all have an inspirational message and many a charity affiliation. Anyone who puts on these socks develops an immediate smile followed by a thumbs up!
    Would you be interested in doing a review of the product? May be interested in doing a give away as well. Please let me know if you are as well as any fees that would be incurred. Please check out http://www.mysoxyfeet.com to view current designs…there are always new designs in the works.

    Wishing you smiling feet and a happy soul!
    Regards,
    Melissa

  35. Brittany Phillips on November 9, 2013 at 7:25 pm

    how do we subscribe to your newsletter?

  36. Katie on November 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter. You have a great blog with so much packed into it. Keep up the good work! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on November 10, 2013 at 4:51 pm

      thank you!!

  37. Tiffany on November 11, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Hello!

    Came across your blog about a week ago while I was searching for an arm workout….LOVING IT!!! You definitley have a flare for writing :0) I would like to subscribe to your newsletter please.

    Thanks much!

    Tiffany

  38. Jhenelle on November 13, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    Hi Gina!

    I work for Train Like A Freak apparel (TLF), an innovative fitness apparel company. I recently came across your website and was very impressed with the content.

    Would you be able to send me a media kit? Also, I would love to send you some of our newest women’s gear for you to review!

    I look forward to hearing from you! Feel free to check out our website at http://www.tlfapparel.com. We’re launching a new collection of women’s fitness apparel in the next few weeks, just in time for the holidays!

    Thanks!

  39. Renee on November 17, 2013 at 12:59 am

    I am a newbie to healthy eating and excercise. Your blog gives me direction. Thanks! Please sign-me up for your newsletter. Wish me luck!

  40. Neni on November 18, 2013 at 12:38 am

    New here 🙂 can’t wait to start my journey!

  41. Lissa on November 22, 2013 at 1:00 am

    Please sign me up for your newsletter:)

  42. LPadios on November 25, 2013 at 10:27 am

    Your site looks perfect place for me to learn how to take advantage of my gym! I look forward to reading your newsletter!

  43. Alexis on November 25, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    love your site!

  44. sandy on December 8, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter. thanks.

  45. Kendall Hoyt on December 10, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    Newsletter, please!

  46. Deidra on December 15, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    Please sign me up for the newsletter

  47. Lays on December 15, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    I recently discovered your AWESOME blog and I am obsessed! I love your articles and work out videos. Keep up the good work!

    • Fitnessista on December 15, 2013 at 11:23 pm

      thank you- i appreciate it! 🙂 happy to have you here <3

  48. Ellen on December 15, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    Would love to get the newsletter with workouts and motivation.

  49. Amy on December 16, 2013 at 10:36 am

    I am so happy to have stumbled across your blog, it is hands down the best/most well rounded fitness blog that I have found! I’m always looking for new workouts and healthy recipes!

    I work in a hospital so I’m very big into meal prepping on Sunday evenings. How do you usually prepare your vegetables and protein (chicken 90% of the time, for me) for a good base to have on hand all week? Thanks so much!!!

    Amy

    • Fitnessista on December 16, 2013 at 1:19 pm

      thank you so much, amy!! <3
      i like grilled chicken and roasted veggies.. you can do anything with them!

  50. Nikki on December 17, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter!!

    I am so looking forward to reading your posts and learning more!

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