Tucson Workouts + HIIT & Row Cardio

Hiiiii 🙂 How’s your morning going? We’re back on the road to San Diego after an amazing trip to see the fam. I was so excited that we were able to drive down to celebrate my nana’s birthday and see everyone. While we were there, we enjoyed the usual family parties and get-togethers, the food (THE BEST food), and even got in some amazing workouts – like the HIIT and Rowing Workout I’m going to share with you!

Flexing with Meg

(Arizona wildcats + kale = two of my favorite things)

This Weekend’s Workouts

Saturday: Base gym blitz

Base gym

(Crossfit gym on base with pull-up bars, rings, rowing machines, kettlebells, medicine balls, barbells + plates, and tires outside)

This was one of those fast, furious and amazing workouts. I love working out at the base gym; it’s a motivating atmosphere and they have pretty much any equipment or cardio tool you could wish for.

I started the set off with 10 minutes of rowing, then did 20 minutes of strength (circuits with upper body emphasis since I knew I was taking a barre class the next day) and ran a quick mile before heading back to Kyle and Meg’s to get ready for Nana’s birthday celebration. 

Sunday: Barre3 class + HIIT workout with Meg

Barre3 was fantastic. As you guys know, I teach barre classes, but our format is entirely different. It’s always fun to switch things up!

Barre3 incorporates more of a mind-body emphasis, with Pilates and yoga elements sprinkled in the workout. I especially enjoy the stabilization work and balance challenges. Class was even more wonderful because I got to work out with my friend Kate, who owns Barre3 Tucson.

Katie and Me at Barre3 Tucson

It was amazing to see all of her hard work come to fruition. The studio and space are absolutely gorgeous:

Barre3 Tucson studio

Barre3 gear

(and mamas: they have a play lounge so your kiddo can enjoy supervised playtime while you shake and quake in class)

barre3 play lounge

Can’t wait to take another class when I’m back in T-town 🙂

HIIT and Rowing Workout

Here’s what Meg and I did for our HIIT workout. It was an awesome sweaty cardio workout, and changing things up between traditional HIIT and rowing intervals kept us going strong.

Hiit and rowing workout


Monday: OFF

Tuesday: Another base blitz (30 minutes strength, 15 minutes HIIT intervals). I would have loved to sneak in a Session yoga practice but I didn’t want to miss any of the family events or fun, especially since today is our last day here.

One of my favorite things to do while visiting cities (new or familiar) is to take some classes or get in a workout while I’m there. For this trip, it worked out (pun? heh) especially well since the Pilot had to study during Liv’s nap time. I headed out for a quick workout and made it back before Liv was up.

When we’re out of town, I usually like to wake up early to get in a workout before the day officially begins, but for this trip, I snoozed until Liv woke up every single day. It was pretty glorious.

Do you like taking classes or doing your own thing when you travel? Do you make in a point to get official workouts, or just count on walking/exploring? 

Hope you have a great morning!

xoxo

Gina

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41 Comments

  1. Brynn on July 22, 2014 at 7:24 am

    Your HIIT workout looks awesome! I am intimidated just reading it. Ha!
    When I travel, I like to seek out places to run or a gym/studio to try.

  2. Paula on July 22, 2014 at 7:44 am

    I love when I have the opportunity to take classes or try a new gym while traveling. Usually I get stuck with hotel gyms and running; but while I was in Seattle last month I got to do a hot yoga class with my MIL and future sister-in-law, visited a CrossFit gym, AND worked out at a friend’s indoor climbing gym. Next week I’m visiting another CrossFit gym while in Minneapolis for a work conference. It’s my favorite part of travel! (NERD!)

  3. Megan on July 22, 2014 at 8:26 am

    When I travel I usually go on runs in the morning. I always fear that I will miss out on family time so I try to do it before everyone is up! I have never looked into taking a class, but I think I will do that next time 🙂

  4. Kirtley Freckleton @ The Gist of Fit on July 22, 2014 at 8:41 am

    Great question! That seems like the chasm between the truly dedicated and the for-funners 😉

    I’ve never gone to a class while I travel–but it sounds fun. Mostly because you get more connected to the community.

    Otherwise, I like to just go on an exploration run. I’m actually at a family reunion now and am about to go on a 6 mile run w my cousin. Then I plan on push ups, triceps and glutes.

    Great post thanks!

  5. Britt@MyOwnBalance on July 22, 2014 at 8:44 am

    I love taking classes when I travel! My favorite is when we go back to Sydney and I can gorge on all the Les Mills classes since they are much more popular there than where I am.

    I’ve been doing the barre3 online workouts and they are a really great option for a prenatal exercise. I love the mind/body emphasis.

  6. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on July 22, 2014 at 8:55 am

    I definitely try to fit in at least one workout with a strength element, then spend the rest of my vacation being active with walking, hiking and playing around. I like to bring a resistance tube to use in my hotel room if I’m not sure about the gym facilities. Happy Tuesday!

  7. Lucie@FitSwissChick on July 22, 2014 at 9:36 am

    That HIIT workout sounds intense!! And I LOVE the base gym – no wonder as a Crossfit addict.
    I LOVE to take new classes or try workouts when I am travelling. When I was in NYC last year I went to Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp three times. It was so awesome! In September I will be training in Crossfit Mallorca (Europe) for a week, so excited!

  8. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on July 22, 2014 at 9:39 am

    Pure Barre is getting a studio in Omaha. I’m really excited! And I love that kale shirt!

  9. Katie @ Talk Less, Say More on July 22, 2014 at 9:47 am

    LOVE that kale tank!! I want one! 😉

  10. Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out on July 22, 2014 at 10:04 am

    This looks amazing! Cant wait to try it!

  11. Megan @ The Skinny-Life on July 22, 2014 at 10:06 am

    If I have time to research before traveling for classes, then yes. Typically if the weather is good though I love walking or running outdoors to explore the city. Then use the hotel gym to lift weights.

  12. Polly @ Tasty Food Project on July 22, 2014 at 10:22 am

    I have never taken a class when I travel and I think it’s because I’m always with other people that aren’t as into fitness classes as I am. However, I try to move a lot when I travel, whether it’s walking or hiking. I am usually more exhausted when I’m on vacation than I am at home!

  13. Leslie @ Life Begins at 30? on July 22, 2014 at 10:36 am

    That 30 minute workout looks killer! I definitely need to try it! I don’t have a medicine ball at home. Do you have a suggestion for a substitute exercise?

    • Fitnessista on July 22, 2014 at 10:54 am

      how about side to side hops?

  14. Domi @ Eat, Pray, Lift on July 22, 2014 at 10:51 am

    That HIIT workout looks like it would kick my bum…AND it reminds me that I really need to be checking craigslist regularly so I can find a used rower for my garage gym. In the meantime, I’m off to get my sweat on with some of your barre burners and a home yoga practice. 🙂

  15. Sara on July 22, 2014 at 11:07 am

    For me, it depends what type of travel I’m doing. If I’m in a new country that is very walking friendly, then forget the workout! I know last summer when I went to Seoul, sometimes I would walk 10 miles a day! But if I’m seeing family in a more local place, then it’s fun to try out a new studio class or just sneak a workout in during in between times. The first barre class I ever took was when I was visiting my dad in Colorado at Pure Barre. Very fun and it was hard to walk the next day :O

    • kim on July 22, 2014 at 7:24 pm

      did you do any gym workouts in seoul ?
      i’ll be there later this year & i’m wondering about the gyms there…

  16. Alex @ Kenzie Life on July 22, 2014 at 11:32 am

    I know I’ve mentioned about a thousand times that I’m a big Pure Barre fan, but it sounds like all of the barre exercises have a different emphasis. I was intrigued when you said Barre 3 has more of a mind-body emphasis. I think PB emphasizes that sometimes, at least during certain parts of the workout, though overall I feel like the whole class requires you to use that connection 🙂 It’d be fun to try Barre 3 or one of the others! When I’m on vacation though, I like staying generally active (since not everywhere I go has a PB studio). I did buy a PB DVD and a tube to use when I go on vacation in August though! I plan on doing a lot of snorkeling and walking on the beach as exercise too 🙂

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:13 am

      that sounds perfect! this is going to sound weird, but barre3 feels more yoga/pilates-esque than any of the barre studios i’ve tried. i also like their holistic approach to health, encouraging balance with work/life and a healthy diet. it’s definitely fun to check out and try all of the methods and styles out there!

      • Alex @ Kenzie Life on July 23, 2014 at 11:57 am

        It sounds like Barre 3 is a lot more holistic in their approach and active about promoting balance! I should give it a try because it sounds like something I’d really like!

  17. RachelG on July 22, 2014 at 11:54 am

    The husband and I have done so much walking on our trip (aka tourist cardio :)) but I did manage to do a SSU workout at our LA hotel. 🙂 This morning’s first thing workout was a walk to Tiki Port for some chai and strolling on the beach while he slept/is still sleeping. Lol. That HIIT workout looks amazing! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:11 am

      i’m so glad you tried tiki port!!

  18. Amy @ Dusty's Sister on July 22, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Killer workout! I love doing the row machine when I can! I think I will try this one on my cross-training day this week!

    I do try to get in workouts when I travel, beyond sight-seeing. Mostly I like the routine of it. And it’s fun to check out different gyms. I actually love hotel gyms as well, since they’re usually empty! I’ll be traveling to Portland over Labor Day weekend and will have to fit in a 17 mile long run for marathon training. I’m super pumped about that!

  19. Tracy on July 22, 2014 at 1:44 pm

    That looks like a pretty intense workout! I like!

    Super cute KALE tank, too! I see from the the pic that you bought it at Barre3 🙂

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:10 am

      haha definitely had to happen 🙂

  20. Justine Mckenzie on July 22, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    Family time is the BEST time.

    ps. tell meg to start blogging again! I loved following it.

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:10 am

      it’s funny you posted this because i was telling her how much i missed her blog! she’s so great at it, too!

      • Justine Mckenzie on July 23, 2014 at 11:01 am

        I agree! Come back to the blogging world meg! We miss you 😉

  21. Julie on July 22, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    You and Meg are adorable, and I love that tie dye-ish top!

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:09 am

      thank you! reebok 🙂

  22. Angie on July 22, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    that studio looks soo cute!! the row machine is ‘da best!! I love that thing!

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:08 am

      also love the rower 🙂

  23. Yaara Leve on July 22, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    You’re looking hawt girlfriend!! So strong and lean! For the sprints did you guys sprint outside or use the treaddie?

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:06 am

      wow, thank you! we sprinted inside from our little station to the wall and back

  24. kim on July 22, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    gina- how did barre3 compare to dailey method?
    (it’s so great when workout places have child care).

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:06 am

      i prefer barre3 over dailey method. i think i need to take another class to fully assess, but i didn’t think dailey method was much of a leg burner and some exercises were tough on my wrists

  25. Jessica on July 22, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Am in love with the tank you’re wearing in the barre pic- who’s it by??

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2014 at 2:05 am

      thank you! it’s from reebok (the cloud tank)

  26. Becca on July 22, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    I’m going to try your HIIT workout! I did so,rthing similar last night, but yours is better. 🙂

    My vacation workout depends where I am. If I know my way around or that it’s safe, I’ll go on daily runs to explore! Otherwise I’ll do HIIT in the hotel or whatever. Last week I was on vacation in Oaxaca City, amd with all the daily walking we did, plus a mountain bike tour, I ended up just calling that enough of a workout!

  27. Laura B @ FitMamaLove on July 22, 2014 at 11:49 pm

    I usually have lots of active time, like lots of walking, paddle boarding or hiking when I’m on vacation. I’ll try to squeeze in at least one or two “real” workouts, but don’t worry about it too much unless I’m starting to feel yucky from not getting my sweat on. A few days off here and there are a-ok.

  28. Nour @ GreenShushi on July 23, 2014 at 9:38 pm

    I usually try to hit the hotel/resort gym when we’re away. But you are so motivating bc you really seem to stick to your 5 a weeks. I need to be better at that. I tend to let things get in the way of my workouts, especially now with a 4 month old. Any tips with an infant at home? I know you’ve been there…

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