Monthly Archives: January 2017

24 Books a Year: Goal Completed

Last year, I set a goal for myself: to read 24 books in 2016 (two books a month). Why did I set this goal? Well, for a few reasons, really…

  1. I love to read and want to consume more unread books in our library.
  2. Reading is one of the best ways to learn how to write better.
  3. Reading is great for inspiration.
  4. I love a good challenge.

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The Next Steps after the Women’s March

I attended the Women’s March in Los Angeles on Saturday and boy, was it inspiring. There was an incredible feeling of solidarity, empowerment, and action! There were around 750,000 people at the march (more like a rally)–and that was just in Los Angeles! We took over Downtown LA. There were infants to grandparents, men and women, all races, multiple religions, all marching to be heard. I marched to show that no matter who is in control of the country, we will not be silent and we will fight for equality and respect. This march wasn’t just for women–it was for all whose voices have been ignored.

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Going to a Fitness Expo (LA Fit Expo 2017)

Every year, our experience at the Los Angeles Fit Expo (and IHRSA… and IDEA…) is different. It’s reflective of what is going on in the fitness industry. Some years, you’ll see more drastic changes in the landscape based on what’s popular with different health and wellness trends. There are also always dozens of booths that represent brand new companies. The world of fitness is so interesting because you generally have very passionate people who are involved for two reasons. 

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The Top 10 Workout Songs of 2016

Please enjoy a guest post from our friends at RunHundred.com.

The most consistently striking aspect of this year’s top workout songs is their consistently slower tempos. For many folks, “workout music” is interchangeable with “club music.” To that end, it’s natural that—as club music’s emphasis has transitioned from high energy beats to almost tropical grooves—workout music would follow suit. As evidence, consider the fact that the average beats per minute (BPM) of this year’s list is 113 BPM relative to last year’s average of 132 BPM.

This trend isn’t bad news per se. People haven’t stopped exercising. Moreover, if songs that wouldn’t have been considered workout music five years ago are getting folks inspired now, the rest is irrelevant. Accordingly, at the far end of this spectrum, you’ll find spirited singles with double digit BPMs from Pink and Sia. Moreover, the single most popular song in the gym this year—Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” hits the year’s average BPM exactly.

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Almond Butter Chocolate Protein Bites

This new year has been so busy already! However, I’m finding more time for creative outlets, like: cooking, baking, recipe-trying, writing, and such. It provides such a great counterbalance to the other stresses of life. Being creative helps relieve that tension, burden, and stress…at least for me it does. Hungry and I have been doing a tough if not repetitive program for the whole month of January (more to come on that later) and we need all the protein we can get to help our poor muscles rebuild each day. I follow the Minimalist Baker and was inspired by one of her recipes found here. Although this recipes differs from her original, it has the same base ingredients. I wanted something easy to pop in the mouth while still getting good nutrition. So, I came up with almond butter chocolate protein bites, and I’m really trying not to eat them all in one go. The ingredients are simple and the macros are great. They are a touch sweet with wonderful texture and you know you’re eating something healthy!

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Holiday-Inspired Workouts

You’re sad the holidays are over. I am too. It was with much regret that we put away the holiday decorations and I stopped playing Christmas music. At least it’s still a bit chilly out to keep everyone in the winter spirit! To keep you holiday-inspired and feeling festive, we would like to share a workout infographic from Fix, a fun lifestyle blog. This particular article was written by Katy Widrick. It may be cold out, but you can still get your workout on using the exercises below!

 Holiday-Inspired Workouts - Hectic Holiday Guide to Keeping Your Health Goals
Source: Fix.com Blog

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