Kettlebells and Dumbbells with Annabells Fitness

That face is the face of a woman who got her butt kicked. (Okay, that's obviously a dramatic overreaction, but you get the idea.) I have taken the Luscious Legs and Arm Candy, Kettlebell Chicks, and Kettlebell 101 Swing Series classes taught by the phenomenal Anabell Browne. I have sweated my face off, I have nearly barfed (due to ingesting an insane amount of sparkling water leading up to a HIIT workout), and I have learned the proper way to do Russian swings with the kettlebell. Long story short: I came to class, I saw Ana work her magic, and I got conquered by all matter of fitness equipment.  Let me back up and start from the beginning.

Tasty Tuesday: Bobo's Mini Chocolate Chip Oat Bar

In this new series, I will be posting quick reviews about different products I receive. I get a TON of free samples and full-size snack items to try. I give some away, share some with my fiance, and keep some for myself, but it seems like I never really tell you guys about them on here! This is my way of sharing different snack ideas with you all. For transparency's sake, I will let you know where/how I received the product, as well as my honest thoughts about them. 

Okay, so these Bobo's Mini Chocolate Chip Oat Bars are so good! I received them in a swag bag from the Old Town Alexandria Fitness + Wellness Festival. I checked out the nutrition facts and determined that, while they are delicious, these aren't the greatest nutrition-wise, which isn't a total bummer, but that also means I can't justify eating them by the handful. They are gluten-free, though, so there's that. Nonetheless, that ain't gonna stop me from eating the ones I have! They're so delicious! They remind me of an oatmeal cookie mixed with a chocolate chip cookie. YUM! Plus, it's not the end of the world to eat something that you enjoy every once in a while, right?

What's a good snack or treat you tried this week? Do you enjoy a tasty treat that it's [fill in the blank]-free every once in a while?

Quick and Easy Acai Bowl Recipe

Okay, so I made this acai bowl yesterday that was delicious and super easy! I'll reason with you guys: I almost never measure my ingredients when I'm creating a recipe. Sometimes I do, but a lot of it is trial and error, or just good old eyeballing.

I use frozen acai puree from Trader Joe's for my acai bowls. The packets can be a little messy if you're not careful, but they come packaged with the perfect amount, plus they're already frozen, so it makes your acai bowl that much quicker and easier to make! TJ's has some great stuff in their frozen section that makes smoothie making super simple. If you haven't taken a close look at their frozen fruit, make a note to check it out the next time you're in their store!

For this recipe, I used the following ingredients (almost all of which can be found at Trader Joe's), but note that I'm estimating the quantities. It's your bowl, so make it yours! Have some fun!

Free Spin Class Hosted by DMV Fitness Fam and Vortex Cycle

This Saturday, I'm co-hosting my second event as part of the DMV Fitness Fam duo with my fit sister Vida from Healthy Curves Rock! We're hosting a free spin class at Vortex Cycle in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. The class will be a 45-minute ride, with high-energy tunes and a great atmosphere. Following the class, we will have networking and some light refreshments for all event attendees. (You guys already know how I feel about Vortex, so I'm not going to rave about the studio in this post.)

Whether you're a fitness professional, influencer, or enthusiast, you're not going to want to miss out on this event! So, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and register! Bikes are filling up fast!

Hope to see you there!

My Favorite New Soap Company

A few months back, I attended the Discover Arlington Fitness + Wellness Festival. I got to try a bunch of new (to me) workouts, and I also got to sample some new food, beverages, and beauty products. One of the beauty tables that kept my attention: All That Yazz! I am absolutely in love with All That Yazz soaps and other products. I have very sensitive skin, so I have to be very careful with soaps. Fortunately, these homemade, all-natural soaps feel great on my skin, are better for the environment than what I might normally buy (especially with its minimalist, recyclable packaging), and have delicate scents that are not overwhelming or skin-irritating. Furthermore, the fact that Yasmine does not use palm oil in her soaps is a plus-plus-plus!

The Immortal Body Workout with Cornell McClellan

Last week, I took my first class with Cornell McClellan - personal trainer to the Obamas for over two decades - at Fitness Snob Studio. I wanted to learn more about his Immortal Body Workout, as well as some exercises and tips to help me get closer to those coveted Michelle Obama Arms. The class was great for all fitness levels, Cornell was engaging, and I learned some new exercises and corrections to exercises I thought I was doing right all along.

I loved learning new exercises, as well as different modifications and variations to the exercises I've been incorporating into my workouts. (Check out this Instagram video I made with the inchworm variation we did during the class.) Cornell made everyone in the class feel comfortable but also encouraged us to push ourselves throughout the class. He gave us a lot of cues to make sure we were completing each exercise correctly - even if we were all going at different paces.

My Experience with a Plant Based Yogurt Alternative

This post is sponsored by Vega, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own based on my truthful experience.

I am not a morning person. At. All. But I am a night person, which means that a lot of the workouts I do are in the evening/nighttime, which is not necessarily ideal for making smart food decisions. I have made a lot of bad choices after late-night volleyball games, but I’ve really been making great strides at having lighter, protein-rich snacks/meals at night.

Lately, I’ve been gobbling up the new Vega Protein Cashewmilk Yogurt Alternative. This is a plant-based yogurt alternative that has the highest protein per serving of any plant-based yogurt alternative on the market - 13 grams per serving! Your body needs carbs and protein after an intense workout to repair your muscles, and this yogurt alternative is a great way to hit both! Plus, it tastes pretty good! (It comes in raspberry, blueberry, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.) This is a brand with many products I’ve tried - particularly when I’m looking for plant-based alternatives.