Change-Up Your Coffee

Coffee, Espresso, Lattes, Tea, Tea-Lattes, Iced or Hot… you name it, I've tried it! But there's a new craze going around in the fitness and health world that I haven't checked out just yet.

Have you heard of Bullet Coffee?!

The name is intimidating, but the results are supposed to be amazing.

What IS "Bullet Coffee"?

Black Coffee mixed with Grass-Fed Butter, and Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil (like Coconut Oil).

Whaaaat??

How to make Bullet Coffee:

1. Brew a cup of black coffee.

2. Add 1 teaspoon of MCT oil (the most popular is Coconut Oil).

3. Add 1 Tablespoon of grass-fed unsalted butter.

4. Mix in a blender, Vitamix, or Bullet, for at least 20 seconds, or until it's creamy and no oil sits on the surface.

This recipe transforms your morning cup of joe into a frothy, creamy, latte-like cup filled with energy! Health and Fitness professionals are claiming that cup of Bullet Coffee before a workout gives them a big boost before they hit the gym.

The idea is that you get your healthy fats in first thing in the morning. Studies show that starting the day with these fasts provides you with a burst of energy, is good for cognitive function, and supports your hormonal system.

What do you think- will you try making Bullet Coffee before your next morning workout? Please send in feedback if you've tried this new trend!

sources:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/bulletproof-coffee

http://www.bulletproofexec.com/how-to-make-your-coffee-bulletproof-and-your-morning-too/

Jump Around! 15 Min. Cardio Blast Home Workout

We celebrated Earth Day earlier this week and hopefully all of our readers were able to spend some time outside to appreciate our beautiful Earth, too! 

Need some inspiration to help bring your fitness outdoors? Here's a quick and effective Jump Rope workout you can do outside to burn a ton of calories and get your cardio in. Add this circuit before or after a Pilates Platinum class to really get your heart rate going! You'll reap the extra the benefits for fitting in a cardio burst before your full body strength training!

If you don't have a jump rope you can find one at many local retailers. I love my simple adjustable Nike one (pictured below) that has soft grippy handles. You can shop for this amazing home-gym staple at Target, Walmart, Big5 Sporting Goods, or even Amazon if you have enough patience to wait for it to arrive.

Grab one today to see what you're missing!  

Make sure you're following @PilatesPlatinum and @HeatherDorak on Instagram and Facebook for so many fun ways to stay active everyday, not just Earth Day!

15 Minute "Jump Around" Workout Circuit:

Perform the below list of jumps, with a 10 second break in-between each move!

*Basic Jump* 1 minute

(Swing the rope and jump over it rope, and land softly on both feet.) 

*Skip Jump* 1 minute

(Swing the rope and jump over it, jump with your right foot first, then your left foot, and continue as if you were skipping in place.)

*Combo Jump* 1 minute

(Jump the Basic Jump for 8 counts, then jump the Skip Jump for 8 counts, and repeat for the full minute.)

*Skip Jump with High Knees* 1 minute

(Just as it says, do the Skip Jump, but raise your knees extra high with each skip, as close to a 90 degree angle as you can.)

*Basic Jump, fast* 2 minutes

(Jump the Basic Jump at a quick pace, maintaining that pace for the full 2 minutes.)

*REST* 1 minute

(Use this time to catch your breath, and get ready for the next endurance move.)

*Basic Jump, fast* 2 minutes

(Jump the Basic Jump at a quick pace, maintaining that pace for the full 2 minutes)

*Rest* 1 minute

(You're on the home stretch, don't give up!)

*Double Jumps* 1 minute

(Jump the Basic Jump, but fit in TWO rope swings for each jump. This is challenging! To modify, alternate between a Basic Jump for 8 counts, and 4 Double Jumps.)

*Basic Jump* 1 minute

(Swing the rope and jump over it rope, and land softly on both feet.) 

*Skip Jump* 1 minute

(Swing the rope and jump over it, jump with your right foot first, then your left foot, and continue as if you were skipping in place.)

Don't forget to stretch afterwards!

Trainer Tuesday! A Day in the Life of Hilary Curwen

Welcome Hilary Curwen to Trainer Tuesday! Hilary has been with Pilates Platinum for over a year and is known to give a great workout- both on the proformer AND the bike! Her Pilates and 30/30 Spin/Pilates classes are full of energy and very hands on. You'll especially love her classes if you're into yoga since Hilary tends to incorporate a bit of "yoga flare" into her workouts. Read below to see a day in Hilary's life, then come visit her on the west side and get moving!

A Day in the Life of Hilary Curwen

Pilates and Spin Instructor (Venice Beach and Brentwood Studios)

What are your favorite Pilates moves?

I love core work, Plank Wheel barrel  Catfish..etc (anything on the back)

I also love exercises that are supine on the carriage.. lower abdominals

are my jam! .

What is one of your favorite non-Pilates workouts?

I am a workout machine. I love hot yoga a few times a week; Corepower &

Modo.  Barry's Bootcamp is fabulous once a week to get kicked in the butt,

and of course running.

What’s your exercise routine like for a typical *week

Monday: afternoon yoga & maybe spin class at night

Tuesday: Pilates with jaime, then I teach  30 min spin after..

Wednesday: Classical Pilates in Hollywood or Barry's in Weho.

Thursday: I teach 45 min spin in the a.m, then do Pilates

Friday: Corepower yoga

Saturday: Pilates with Debi & I teach 30 min spin

Sunday: REST

What are some of your favorite healthy foods? 

*I love love love mushrooms. Raw, steamed, **sautéed, love it all.  I eat

veggies with almond cheese a lot lately, and make veggie spring rolls with

rice paper and tofu.  I eat pretty "vegan-like."*

What does your workout and eating schedule for a typical day like?

I wake up around 5:30 or 6 am, and the first thing I do is go to the

kitchen.  I have some coconut water and honestly eat whatever is in the

fridge that day.  Today I had sushi from the night before…   I love

smoothies, so I use coconut meat, protein powder and almond milk for a

creamy drink.  I then work for a few hours then do my workout for the day.

I am definitely a morning person so I like to get everything done early.

I am all over LA, so I find places to workout or bring running shoes and do

that in between appointments.  Always keeping clothes in the car has served

me well.   I eat every few hours and I love anything that has dates or nuts

in it.  Recently I have been making my own 'lara bars' for something sweet

in the afternoon.. I work early afternoons and nights then crash early

around 10pm..

See more of Hilary HERE in her Trainer Bio video!

Save Your Skin!

As summer approaches and we’re able to enjoy the sun on a daily basis, it’s crucial to protect our skin from the elements! The sun is strong and you can easily get a burn and damage your skin without even realizing it. There are other ways to protect your face from the sun in addition to stocking up on SPF sticks and sun lotions, or make up and powder infused with high SPFs.

I’ve got a secret weapon for outdoor runs, hikes, and even for those long drives in rush hour facing the sun...HATS! A hat is an essential part of workout gear that I use daily. They not only protect your face, your eyes, and even your highlights, but they also look cute!

If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to picking out the best hat for you, here a few of ideas to get you started! 

Nike Seasonal Featherweight Hat   

($25, great for walking or jogging, as well as everyday wear, adjustable fit, and made with Dri-FIT fabric, available in 3 bright and summer-y colors)

Nike AW84 Adjustable Running Hat

($25, perfect for running, made from ultra lightweight, sweat resistant fabric, with reflective strips on the front and back)

 

Outdoor Research's Oasis Sombrero Sun Hat

 ($38, super comfortable and perfect for hiking or fishing, or walks on the beach, made of SolarShield™fabric that has a UPF 50+ to keep you protected, available in 4 colors)

 Asic's Women's Dawn-to-Dusk Running Visor

($18, lightweight, quick dry functionality, available in 3 colors, with reflective strips throughout, easy alternative for working out outdoors at any time of the day without getting "hat hair")

 GapFit GStride Running Hat

($20, simple and sleek design for all activities, mesh panels on each side for ventilation, available in black or white)

San Diego Sun Company Sun Hat

($42, oversized straw hat, perfect for outdoor events when you want to keep cool in a cute outfit)

 

JCREW Summer Straw Hat

($35, another great summer hat for everyday protection, available in navy or natural)

 REI's Ribbon Sun Hat

($25, wide brim with ribbon detail, plenty of coverage in a cute design, really easy to fold up for packing, bring this along on your next beach day or throw it on for a ride in a convertible)

 

Now let's all go hat shopping!

Women's Health Magazine's May Issue

If you’ve been reading the blog for a few months then the phrase, “Get Outside” isn’t new to you- I’ve been a strong advocate of being outside, exploring nature, and taking workouts (or really anything!) outdoors for as long as I can remember. So you can image how pleasantly surprised I was to open the May issue of Women’s Health Magazine directly to a featured called “Get Outside”! Great minds think alike!

Starting on Earth Day, April 22^nd, you can follow 

@womenshealthmag and @nature_org 

for “30 days’ worth of outdoor-themed fitness, food, and travel tips, plus ideas for how to work more nature into your life."

Don’t forget to follow @PilatesPlatinum too!

The magazine suggests a ton of ways to Train Outside, Dine Outside, Think Outside, and Explore Outside. Trail running and picnic lunch dates are right up my alley! If you haven’t read the article, don’t worry, I’ll be sharing a ton of outdoor inspiration throughout the month giving you ideas to last all summer.

On my Outdoor To Do List so far:

Go on as many hikes as I can fit in before it gets too hot!

Visit the Los Angeles Zoo.

Watch the Dodgers play!

Visit the Descanso Gardens.

Take an outdoor yoga class.

What are some of the things you’re looking forward to doing outside this month?

Commit to be Fit!

We all have time for health and fitness- you just have to make it a priority! It’s so much easier to commit to your fitness goals by scheduling your workouts in advance and sticking to your plan. Think of it as though you have a mandatory meeting each day that you can’t miss no matter what. It might take some getting used to, but your body (and mind!) will thank you afterwards.

 Here are some tips to commit:

J Follow your fitness! Social media helps everyone stay connected to their fitness communities. Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Websites, and Blogs are literally right at your fingertips! Following your favorite fitness brands, icons, studios and friends will help to keep you motivated to step up your own fitness game. And, sometimes you’ll even score some fitness prizes! Many companies offer giveaways just by following their feeds.

Right now, if you follow @pilatesplatinum on Instagram, you could win 5 FREE PILATES PLATINUM CLASSES! (Winner will be chosen next week.)

J Create a fitness journal or diary. Write down your goals, schedule your workouts, check off what you’ve accomplished, and track your progress! You can also purchase a journal made specifically to support your fitness goals, like the one found HERE from Lorna Jane, which is filled with inspirational quotes and workout challeneges each week.

J Prepare healthy snacks and meals in advance. If you know you’ll be away from home all day, plan ahead to stick to your nutritional goals. It’s so easy to carry around healthy snacks with you. All it takes is a little thinking ahead that’ll keep you from sabotaging your health. You'll feel much better if you eat something healthy instead of settling for something else that may be convenient in a rush. Pack a lunch for work, snack on raw almonds, or try a Vega One Bar when you’re on the run. 

J Lay out your workout gear the night before. Pick something fun to wear so you’re happy when you throw it on. Wake up and jump right into your outfit and hit the gym (or Pilates Studio)! You’ll be setting yourself up for a successful morning with no excuses.

J Live in the now. Be present and be POSTIVE. It takes 21 days to form a habit. You can do it! Don’t give up!