I was asked the other day which different indoor cycling studios I've tried out. I had to go through my list to figure it out, and I realized that I've now tried out quite a few. My first experience was with ZengoCycle (two different locations), then Cyclebar (3 locations), then SoulCycle (just one so far, when I was last in Miami), and now Cycled - a DC-area studio with two locations. Combine that with all of the gyms where I've taken cycling, and I realized I have taken A LOT of indoor cycling classes! I love comparing all of the different styles, workouts, and quality, and feel that I can confidently provide feedback and recommendations on different studios I've experienced. ...

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I received some free goods to try out from Sweet Earth.  I'm a busy lady. Granted, I wasn't terribly busy last week since I spent most of it in bed, miserable with strep throat. Seriously, how am I getting strep throat in my 30s? I don't even think I got it in my 20s! Fortunately, I'm mostly over strep now. Good grief! Thanks to all of you guys who sent me well wishes while my dramatic self was seemingly on her death bed. Okay, so back to the business at hand. I'm usually a very busy lady. Between work, volleyball (organizing the club and playing), indoor cycling, and ya know, my demanding day (and often times evening and weekends) job, I often have a hard time remembering to eat, or having something quick, easy, and healthy  available when I need it. On weeks where I don't have time to grab lunch, and I work so long during the day that it runs up against my evening events, the struggle to make healthy decisions is re...

Two weeks ago, I joined my Sweat Pink DMV sisters and my buddy Esther for a breast cancer awareness event at Cyclebar in Arlington, Virginia. There was so much positive energy and sweat at the event, and I hope we raised a good chunk of change for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation! Because this was a Sweat Pink DMV event, I got a chance to catch up with my girl Vida of Healthy Curves Rock . I met her at Blogfest this year, and she always cracks me up! It was also Esther's first indoor cycling class ever! This was my second experience at Cyclebar , but my first time at the Columbia Pike Cyclebar in Arlington, Virginia. (My first time was in NoMa in DC.) I have enjoyed both Cyclebar experiences, though I do have a few qualms. Mainly, I love that the studios are very clean and inviting, and that they email you your stats PLUS the playlist from the ride. I also love that they use Schwinn bikes, since those are the ones I used during my certification and they don't carry ...

Let me start by giving myself a pat on the back: I got in a LOT  of fitness last week, and it felt GREAT ! Sunday: Coed Volleyball I love my Sunday team. Seriously. We just have such a great time, and play some pretty good ball. I genuinely enjoy spending time with my teammates outside of the gym, and they're just cool, good people. I would take a team like my Sunday team over a team that wins a lot but can't stand each other any day. I'm too old to be miserable in my free time! My shoulder has been feeling a lot better, so I've been practicing my overhand serve again, and managed to serve a few last week. I was sore from my tournament on Saturday, so I didn't go overboard, but I'm hopeful! I'm debating whether I want to try out some yoga this upcoming week. My follow-up appointment with my sports orthopedist got pushed back a couple of weeks because he's been sick, and I'm getting antsy. We'll see how this week shapes out, and I'll k...

I took a spin class on Saturday that was quite possibly the most lit spin class I have ever taken. I didn't know it when I arrived, but it was just what I needed to sweat out the week's exhaustion, aggravation, negativity, and full-moon-induced craziness. I had taken Gina's class before, but never on a Saturday. Her Wednesday class gets packed , so you have to sign up the night before if you don't want to get waitlisted! Of all the indoor cycling instructors at my gym, her playlist is most like my own musical preferences: It's eclectic, with pop songs from the 80s to now, EDM, salsa, and even a song from Bollywood! On this day in particular, she had connected her laptop to the monitor that projects behind her, and it was playing the music videos for each song we heard, which just added some extra fun to the class. I had never seen that before! Let me back up. You guys know I'm always getting ahead of myself in my storytelling! ...

When was the last time you were so busy, you forgot to eat? You just go about your day, hustlin' and bustlin', and when it comes time to just sit down and put your feet up, you ask yourself, did I eat today? This happens to me ALL. THE. TIME. Sometimes, it's work related. I have back-to-back meetings, followed by catching up on emails, followed by returning phone calls, and the next thing I know, it' 6 p.m. and I haven't eaten, and I have a volleyball game coming up! Today, I had a lot of phone calls and emails, and had to run from work to a volleyball game, followed by another volleyball game on the other side of town! You don't even want to know how sweaty I got this evening. So foul... Because my days can sometimes be pretty unpredictable, I've been stocking up my office fridge (plus one drawer in my desk) with some pick-me-ups that can deliver a punch of nutrition and energy when I only have a minute to fuel the old bod. ...

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by prAna . I received an outfit in exchange for a review of their Fall line.  A lot has changed since my last post about prAna ! I graduated from just barely being able to hit the Chaturanga pose, to being able to hit it with ease, to my minor setback of being banned from doing it at all right now (lame!); I have had minimal wardrobe malfunctions in fitness classes (can't win 'em all, folks); I love being a Sweat Pink Ambassador even more - especially as I've met more of my SPA sistahs IRL over the last year and a half - and the opportunity to check out prAna's fall line makes me love it even more! ...

Okay, banned is probably not the right word, but that's how it feels! I've been having issues with my rotator cuff , and the doctor I saw yesterday prescribed me physical therapy, only underhand serving in volleyball (like I'm a 9-year old or a 90-year old), and NO YOGA. #firstworldproblems I'm not actually sure how I injured my rotator cuff, to be honest. It's possible that I hurt it during volleyball, but it's also possible that I hurt it during this one yoga class where the instructor pressed down on my shoulder a little bit too hard. Needless to say, there wasn't a particular incident where I can say, "yeah, I definitely hurt it then !" ...

My Instagram takeover was sponsored by Gerolsteiner USA, but not this blog post. Good morning, lovelies! Just poppin' in to tell you guys that I'm taking over the Gerolsteiner USA Instagram page today! I'll be sharing photos and tidbits throughout the day today, and I didn't want you guys to miss out! I encourage you to hop on over to learn all about this awesome sparkling water, and be sure to enter their Sparkling Detox Challenge while you're over there! (More info here .) I hope everyone enjoys their hump day!...

Disclosure: I received RXBAR s and a Vitamin Shoppe gift card in exchange for a review and giveaway, but all thoughts shared in this post are my own. Seriously. Some of the sentences you're about to read are so corny, you couldn't pay anyone to write them.  When I was going through my first Whole 30, I kept hearing about these things called RXBAR s. I thought they were some type of herbal remedy or something (can you blame me?), but soon learned that I was wayyyyy wrong . I had never seen them, and every time I came across the name in my reading on the Whole 30, I grew more intrigued. One day, about halfway through my first Whole 30, I spotted them in a local organic market, and knew I had to see what all the fuss was about. Oh. My. Lanta. ...

First things first: The bag I purchased last month and has become my new everything bag is called the Infinity Bag and It. Is. Amazing. This bag is eye-catching and is so different from every other bag I own. I've been rocking it everywhere! So... the brand name is Dash Dash Dot Dash Dash Dash, but they go by Go Dash Dot on social media. What's up with that name? It actually made me stop at their booth at the IDEA World Expo because I had to know what the heck that meant! According to the founder, it means "go" in Morse code. Once I learned that I was totally interested in learning more about the company! #nerdalert ...

You read that right, friends: I did it! I got certified! The day before the official kickoff of Blogfest was the day of certifications. Some of my friends got certified to teach Strong by Zumba (which is really fun, and you should totally try it. Disclaimer: It is not dancing!), others obtained their certifications in other subjects, but I was all in on the Schwinn! Fortunately for me, I was still on Eastern Standard Time, because the class began at 8 a.m., and we all know I ain't a morning person. ...

This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for shopping at the Farmers Market, but all thoughts, purchasing decisions, and photos are my own! Do you guys have farmers markets in your area? Did you know National Farmers Market Week is coming up in just a few weeks (August 6-12)? I recently had the fortune of shopping at the Pike Central Farm Market  at Pike & Rose recently, and I fell in love! I love farmers markets because you get to buy fresh, local ingredients, and you often learn about businesses and foods that you might never hear of otherwise. I went with my good friend Judy. We stopped by after free yoga at the new REI and brunch at Owen's Ordinary . I wanted to pick up some ingredients I'd never cooked with so that I could make something different for dinner for the next week or two, and Judy was down for a stroll around the market. ...

A few weeks back, I bought myself a bike. I set a goal to drive to work less often on days where I don't have events or activities immediately after work. I could take Metro to work, but I could also commute by bike, which is even better for the environment, and better for my health. Plus, since I'm getting my indoor cycling certification next month, I wanted to get myself more comfortable on bikes in general.  I went to Performance Bicycle in Columbia, Maryland, and got a great deal on a low-end, functional, hybrid bike. The bonus was that it was in one of my favorite colors! ...

Hello friends! It has been a while since I last posted here, hasn't it? Sorry to have neglected you guys! Things have been busy on my end with my move, work, and getting my butt in shape! I've been posting on Twitter and Instagram , so if you follow me there, you won't miss anything! As part of my "getting my butt in shape" plan, I've been getting in a bunch of two-a-days over the last couple of weeks. One cool thing that I've been doing is taking Pilates at lunchtime at work (it's free as part of our health insurance), and I'm definitely starting to notice a difference with my core strength! I hadn't done Pilates in a looong  time, so I forgot that I actually liked it! ...

I've been a fan of Quest Bars for a little while now. They're so good! I like to pack some for volleyball tournaments and hiking, but I also like to keep some in my desk for days when I don't get a chance to eat lunch. Each bar provides me with at least 20g of protein, which I definitely need as an active person! After work and yoga on Friday, I headed over to Target to pick up some Quest Bars . Did you know that they sell them at Target? I actually had no idea, but I'm glad they do! They have everything at Target, don't they? That's why I'm always getting in trouble when I go there! "Oh, I just need to pick up a pack of staples!" (Leaves store with a new desk, a new stapler, poster board, a swimsuit...) ...

Disclosure: I was provided with one canister of Click Active protein powder in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts contained in this post are my own.  Have you ever thought, why can't I just make one drink in the morning that has protein AND coffee?  Well, you're in luck! Today, I'm going to tell you all about this amazing protein powder I tried, and I'll even share with you a delicious new recipe! Oh, and one other thing: One of you lucky readers will win a canister of mocha protein powder ! Click Active . Those are some magical words! These guys are the real deal! They have this amazing protein powder which has 25g of protein in each serving, as well as caffeine from espresso. It tastes delicious, and helps you get that extra perk in the morning that you would normally get from your regular ol' coffee. ...

I'm going to BlogFest again this year! I'm so excited! I had such an amazing time last year, learned so much, and met so many inspiring people. I can't wait to do it all again! This year's BlogFest is being held in Las Vegas, and I'm doubly excited because I've never been to Vegas, let alone Nevada, before! Hooray to checking another state off the list ! Last year, I almost signed up for the POP Pilates training, but I decided against it. I had not done Pilates in I don't know how long, but I distinctly remember not being too passionate about it. After last year, I thought, why don't I try to find something I am  interested in that I can get certified in next year? ...

A few weeks ago, I had the fun, sweaty chance to try out 9Round Fitness in Rockville , Maryland. It's actually a franchise, so it's likely you may have heard about it in your 'hood. One of the cool things about living in the DC Area is that, if you really wanted to, you could try out a different workout/studio/boutique every week. I decided to try out 9Round after attending their grand opening for work. It seemed like a pretty cool format, it was a bare-bones facility, and it was clean, so why not give it a shot? ...

Let's just cut to the chase: Mondays are rough for me. My weekends are way too short, my Sunday night routine bumps up against my Monday morning, and I just want to sleep in! On top of all of that, Mondays are usually my busiest days at work. Needless to say, Mondays aren't my favorite. One of the toughest things for me on Monday is getting myself a nutritious breakfast as I rush around my place, things flying like I'm the Tasmanian Devil. If I'm really bad over the weekend, and can't make it to the grocery store, the chance of me having something healthy in my pantry to eat on a Monday morning is pretty slim. Fortunately, I was recently introduced to the Quest Nutrition Beyond Cereal Bars . ...

If you've been following me on Instagram, you know that I have been practicing yoga a heck of a lot more now than any other point in the last couple of years -- basically since I've started practicing yoga. It has helped me with a lot of lower back and hip issues I was having, it's made me more flexible and balanced, and -- most importantly -- it has helped me with my sanity. Yoga is life, y'all! Recently, I have had two opportunities to attend yoga classes at Sky House Yoga in Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland (DTSS). It is such a cute studio with incredible energy. In their current space, they have one small classroom, which makes the classes intimate. They are moving to a new studio next month, so I'm excited to see how this space compares. (I've been keeping track of progress and trying to figure out how the new studio will look. I've sort of been stalking their Instagram . I'm not proud.) ...

Greetings, friends! I'm back in Maryland, and I'm not gonna lie: I miss the Key West weather! I cannot wait to share my race recap and travel recap with you all, but that will come later this week. Instead, I'd like to share what I've been up to since my return from Florida, and what I have planned for this week . ...

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the  Key West Half Marathon  as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a  BibRave Pro  (ambassador), and check out  BibRave.com  to review find and write race reviews! I made it into Miami this morning, and I'm so happy to be near the ocean this weekend! I'm currently in South Beach - which is where my best friend lives - and I'll be heading down to Key West tomorrow with my college roommate for the Key West Half Marathon ! ...