There’s magic in new beginnings.

New week, new month and so much new to be grateful for. A new job that has my creative juices flowing again, a new home and a new hood to explore! They say good things comes in 3’s, but I’m not ready to stop at 3. In fact, I’m going for 10 with my monthly roundup of all my favorite things from October. Check out the list below!

October marked the start of a new season, so here’s a list of the top 10 things that had me falling for fall this past month!

1.) Favorite Fall Breakfast: Pumpkin Chia Pudding

Wasting leftover pumpkin puree is absolutely out of the question. What to do with it? Behold Pumpkin Chia Pudding layered with Greek yogurt, date syrup, bananas and grain-free granola. You’re welcome.

Here’s how to whip up this dreamy grab ‘n go breakfast:

Pumpkin Chia Pudding
– 1 C Libby’s pumpkin puree
– 1/4 C Mamma Chia chia seeds
– 1 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
– 2 T maple syrup
– 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Mix all the ingredients in a mason jar and place in the fridge overnight (or at least 4 hours). Good enough to eat on its own, but isn’t life really about the toppings?

Want that extra touch of sweetness? Here’s how to make the two-ingredient date syrup.

Date Syrup
– 1 cup of medjool dates
– 1 1/2 C water
– 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Use as a syrup for pancakes or to sweeten chia pudding, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, you name it. Dates. The wonder sweetener.

2.) Favorite Zen Space: Ritual Yoga

If there was a mash-up between a spa, a hip hop concert and a yoga retreat, it would manifest as Ritual Yoga. This new(ish) yoga studio in Chicago’s River North is a full-service zen experience that feels like a treat to the mind, body and soul. When you visit, you’ll be welcomed by the concierge and offered tea in the lounge area if you’d like to sip ‘n savor after or get in the mood beforehand. The studio itself is pitch black with candles lighting the way to the rows of mats that will be your playland for the next 50 minutes. Not only will you have 1 yogi to guide you through the flow, but also a second yoga instructor to check form throughout. And don’t stress about remembering a towel or water because everything’s included. Is your mind blown yet? If not, imagine flowing to “Gangsta’s Paradise” and you’ll find the high vibe I was feeling. This studio is a must visit and welcome oasis!

3.) Favorite Self Care: Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Beyond going to Ritual, one of my other rituals for the month of October was trying a new mask every Sunday for a little self-care. I also have about a year’s worth of free samples from Sephora and Ulta and am a complete hoarder, so I refuse to let them go until they’ve all been tried. My favorite so far is the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. The pearlescent black lacquer goes on thick and dries to form a smooth glossy finish over the entire face that is infused with detoxifying charcoal. The coolest part was slowly peeling off the mask, which comes off in a singular piece almost like a rubber mask. It extracts buildup as you peel it away, revealing luminescent skin beneath. It left me feeling shiny and new!

4.) Favorite Jams: Fall Favorites on Spotify

While I’m taking a break from teaching spin, I never take a break from collecting bomb tunes for long runs, or long commutes. My favorite amp up track right now is “Get Loud for Me” by Gizzle. Check out the rest of the list on Spotify!

5.) Favorite People: aSweatLife Fit Fam!

If you’re looking to live your best life, then the aSweatLife community is your kinda people! I was recently inaugurated as an ambassador for this group that focuses on creating connections, trying new things and setting goals…in and out of the gym. I was first introduced to the group about a year ago when a fellow instructor mentioned the upcoming Sweat Week – a week entirely devoted to sweatastic events like yoga at Willis Tower and a relay race across the city. I didn’t know a soul at that first yoga event, but doing yoga 110 stories above ground tends to bring people together. The motto of aSweatLife is #everythingisbetterwithfriends. I love that mentality and am so happy to have found a group of bad*ss people who are equally obsessed with fitness and goal-setting!

6.) Favorite Snack: Biena Chickpeas

If you find that hangry feeling creeping up mid-afternoon, slay that monster with these crunchy toasted chickpea snacks from Biena. My favorite is the sweet and salty combo of the Honey Roasted variety, which are reminiscent of the honey roasted peanuts you used to get on flights. But imagine a lighter, crispier and healthier version with only 4g of sugar, 78% less fat and 5g of protein. The sea salt variety reminds me of freshly popped popcorn and the barbecue flavor fits the bill if you’re looking for something more savory. Be forewarned, once you pop, you might not stop.

7.) Favorite New Restaurant: Tomi Sushi

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to see how new venue Tomi Sushi is changing up the sushi game in Chicago. The vivid sushi rolls highlight superfood infused rice like this spicy tuna roll (left) infused with charcoal and coconut. Unlike traditional spicy rolls, this one features a smoky heat that was oh so good. The middle roll (my fav) is pretty in pink with dragon fruit infused rice enrobing the fresh scallops. The flavor was especially bright when paired with yuzu sauce and had a hit of citrus. You also can’t go wrong with an avocado roll (right), especially when it’s wrapped in golden berry rice. Don’t worry, the rice isn’t fruity, just pretty and delicious. And if that wasn’t cool enough, the sushi is actually made by robots! Check it out at Revival Food Hall, stat.

8.) Favorite Workout: Crosstown Fitness

I’ve been visiting this cardio, strength and mobility gym on the reg for the last 6 weeks and haven’t had a repeat workout yet. The hour-long classes are station-based with either strength or cardio-oriented movements. Think kettle bell thrusts, box jumps, pull-ups and things my abs will never forget. The time flies with all the variety, which is always a good sign! Check it out in the West Loop, Roscoe Village or the Northside. Note: parking can be hard to find in the West Loops, so book extra time!

9.) Favorite Comfort Food: Savory Oats

Sleep = a time machine to breakfast, amiright? I don’t know why it took me so long to get over the fact that oats don’t have to be sweet. And after Halloween, someone needs to cut back on sugar and that someone is me.

Here’s how I created this mastery of creamy, savory oats:

Savory Oatmeal Bowl
–Quaker original organic instant oats (2 packets)
-8 oz of Pacific Foods organic vegetable broth
-Sauteed portobello mushrooms
–Wholly Guacamole
-1 Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs, the way you like ’em
-Sprinkle of pea shoots

Heat the vegetable broth in the microwave until boiling (about 4 minutes). Add the boiling broth to a bowl with the oats. Cover the bowl with a plate to keep it warm and soak up the broth while you make the eggs. Once the eggs are ready, remove the plate, stir and add the guacamole, mushrooms, egg and pea shoots. This makes for one hearty breakfast, so you may only need 1 packet of oatmeal, or, share this bowl with someone you love!

10.) Favorite Sweet Treat: Pumpkin Cannoli

This Norwegian made pumpkin cannoli that would make any Italian mother proud. And the real showstopper is the dairy-free pumpkin ricotta made from creamy cashews soaked overnight and blended with almond milk, maple syrup and a touch of vanilla and pumpkin puree. Top with some carob chips and you wouldn’t know there isn’t an ounce of Italian in me. Find the recipe here.

That’s a wrap on October! As we enter November, remember that when one door (or month) closes, there’s always a new door that awaits where the grass is greener. Don’t believe the b.s. The grass is always greener. Sometimes you just have to wait a bit longer for the seeds of your labor to sprouts. Here’s to growth in November!

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When you accidentally show up as twinsies for your first boxing class and totally own it. Ready for the ring? Maybe not. But at least we’ve got our one-two combo down thanks to Unanimous Boxing Gym. Read on for a review of this Logan Square spot.

When I say this was my first boxing class, I mean LEGIT boxing class. I’ve done plenty of kickboxing classes at big box gyms that are more Jazzercise than boxing. Or the all-too-common and on-trend boxing mash-up classes where you never totally do any move right because it’s some sort of weird combination of barre and boxing, or you’re already moving onto the next move before you get the hang of the first. Youknowwhatimean? Unanimous Boxing, on the other hand, was a 100% pure, unassuming boxing gym. You come here to box, you actually box. Weird concept, huh?

While the chandelier may look all fancy, this gym was anything but fancy – but in a good way. So many gyms around Chicago are super trendy and more worried about image vs. delivering a quality, highly technical, form-centric class. Now, I’m not going to lie, it was intimidating walking into this gym. Mostly because it was clear that this was a place for serious boxers and I was, well, very much a novice. Thankfully I was meeting up with a friend – being a newb is always better with a friend. Strength in numbers.

I attended a 6 p.m. class on a Thursday evening with Aisling Holt. She’s a 3-time Chicago Golden Gloves Champion, so she knows a thing or two about boxing. The class was relatively small with a dozen or so people, which allowed for a more hands-on experience. Beyond my friend and I, there was only one other girl. But if the machismo intimidates you, they also offer all women’s boxing classes too.

The class I attended was a 60-minute coed boxing class that started out with a cardio segment, including movements like jumping jacks and burpees to warm up the body and get the heart rate up. This was followed by shadow-boxing, which is sparring with an imaginary opponent. This help with form and to learn the movements. Since my friend and I were the only two newbies in the class, we got a lot of hands-on training during this section, which was super helpful. I had vague knowledge of a jab, hook and cross, but my form was totally off from so many kickboxing classes where I was never corrected. Aisling was super helpful and attentive.

After the shadow-boxing segment, we did some partner work at the punching bags. The gym offers free wraps and gloves, but had run out of wraps. I was mostly fine, but was feeling it by the end of this segment. My friend who had wraps was 100% fine, so, get the wraps if you can. We definitely got a lot of good shoulder and bicep work in this section.

The session ended with some ab work, which was the toughest part of the workout in my opinion. It was basically 4 minutes straight of abs – think 30 seconds of bicycles immediately followed by 30 seconds of boat pose. Repeat and then onto the next move. It was pretty savage and exactly what I was yearning for at the end of the workout.

All in all, it was a great lesson in boxing form, but wasn’t the toughest workout. I was still learning the moves, so I imagine that I’d be ready to push my limits a bit more the second or third time. I was expecting a bit more cardio work incorporated throughout, but it provided a lot of good toning exercises and was a great way to vent after a long week! If you want to give it a try, they offer a free 3-day pass for newcomers, so you’ve got nothing to lose! The gym also offers showers and a space downstairs for individual work on treadmills or variety of cross-training equipment. Find Unanimous Boxing Gym at 2764 N Milwakee Avenue in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.

As always, if there’s a new gym I should check out, feel free to shoot me a message!

*Photo credit Unanimous Boxing Gym.

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Ready to tear up Tuesday like, HIIT me with your best shot! Fire away. If you’re a real tough cookie (or a softy searching for those abs – no judgment), here’s the lowdown on a few of my favorite (and new) HIIT classes in Chicago (and elsewhere), including the new FlyFit class at Flywheel, Barry’s Bootcamp, Studio Three, Shred415 and Sweat Fitness. With so many classes, it’s hard to choose. I can’t pick a favorite, so I do them all and let you decide! Check out my recap of all things HIIT below.

These days, it seems like every gym is trying to diversify, for good reason. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, HIIT workouts (or high intensity interval training) is the number one workout in the U.S. for a second year in a row. The basic framework is bursts of all-out work separated by rest periods, which never seem to be long enough. People (myself included) are addicted to the adrenaline rush – and the results. According to Shape magazine, there are a multitude of benefits to this intense workout including:

Benefits of HIIT

–Efficiency: You can make dramatic changes to your body in half the time you’d spend slogging on the treadmill. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, it takes 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training to match the improvements you’ll see in aerobic capacity from just 2 weeks of HIIT.

–Fat Burning: Not only do you burn mega calories during HIIT, but it also revs up your metabolism for the next 24 hours so you can be burning calories while catching up on the Bachelorette afterwards.

–Lose Weight, Not Muscle:  HIIT preserve muscle as you lose weight while steady state exercise tends to result in muscle loss as well. Remember, strong is sexy!

Those are just a few examples of the power of HIIT. Ready to try out a class? Find my recap of the HIIT scene below.

FlyFit by Flywheel Sports

The newest kid on the block is FlyFit or Functional Intense Training at Flywheel Sports. Many are familiar with Flywheel as the mother of indoor performance cycling. In the past couple of years, Flywheel expanded to offer barre classes and this past month, brough HIIT to its Old Town location in Chicago. The classes are held in the barre room with free weights and a mat – that’s it! The basic format is circuit style workout with 5 rounds that include 3 exercises each. I went to Elana’s 7:00 a.m. Upper Body and Core class on a Tuesday and let me tell you, she turned. it. up! I wasn’t sure whether I’d actually be able to get my heart rate up enough without a treadmill or rower, but those burpees and split jumps did the trick! Unlike the barre classes, you do wear shoes (hello, weights!) and the weights are a bit heavier – you can choose upwards of 25 lbs (I think, don’t quote me though! I predominantly used something in the 10-15 range).  We also did some magic with resistance bands that had my arms feeling like Gumby afterwards – mission accomplished! The only downsides were that the room was relatively small, ventilation could have been a little better and I didn’t sweat quite as much as I would in a class with a treadmill. All in all, a good burn for a day you might not be feeling like sprinting.

Barry’s Bootcamp

Barry’s claims to be the original high-intensity workout, but it’s only in the last year that the trendy chain made its way to Chicago with a location in Lincoln Park and River North. The infamous “red room” is where you “face yourself” and get ready to slay the day with 25 minutes of cardio and 25 minutes of strength – or opt to do a double on the floor and skip chasing your own tail on the treadmill. The instructors are top notch and the workout is never the same. It’s the place where sexy bodies are made and the tunes carry you away – as much as they can when you’re trying to keep pace. I generally habit the early morning classes at Lincoln Park, so #deathbytrista with Trista Greco is a fav, as are classes with Matt (best tunes and short shorts) and Holly (total spitfire). Only drawbacks to this work out are 1.) the lights are way too bright in the lobby for 6 a.m. (no one needs to see that well that early) 2.) I swear the treadmills are harder here than any other place – like in a “what kind of tricks are you trying to play?” kind of way and 3.) the transitions are a bit slow as everyone puts weights away after each round – snore. However, this place is great for: hard core HIIT fans who like a “scene”.

Studio Three

Studio Three has been on the Chicago scene for a couple of years now with a location in River North and soon-to-open this fall location in Lincoln Park (hell, yes!). I was originally drawn to Studio Three for the Peloton classes, but the basement Torch classes soon became a mainstay in my routine for the rowing machines. If you haven’t rowed (and I hadn’t until coming here) you are missing out on this hidden gem! Rowing works, get this – 86% of your muscles! Holy shiznit! And for someone with joint issues (raise your hand!), the integration of rowing is a knee-saver. At Studio Three, there are three rounds of various length on the treadmill, floor and rowers. I love that Studio Three keeps the transitions quick and your heart rate up. My fav instructor (and also the director of the interval program) is Dustin – he keeps the rowing segments interesting (think partner races) and goals reasonably achievable since most people are the least familiar with rowing. Only drawback is that some of the newer instructors don’t seem to know what to do to vary the rowing, so it can be a lot of long hauls. Studio Three is definitely great for all levels – tough workouts that are a bit easier on the knees vs all tread workouts and tons of showers (anyone else have shower anxiety when they walk out of class to find a huge line?).

Shred415

Shred415 is a Chicago born and bred chain of bootcamp-style studios that has exploded across the city and is starting to make it’s way to places like St. Louis and soon, Seattle! Bonnie and Tracy are the dynamic duo that started the explosion and will definitely give you bestie envy if you follow their Instagram! Like Barry’s the workout generally consists of 15-minute interval sessions alternating between high-speed chases on the treadmill and muscle making on the floor with free weights and sometimes resistance bands. Of all the HIIT studios, Shred415 offers the best tread workout in my opinion – generally you “set your pace” in the first few minutes and build from there with flat road sprints, rolling hills, steady climbs, you name it! Variety is the name of the game and I always feel like the goals are reasonable and personalized. Similar to Studio Three, transitions are much quick and Shred does a great job of keeping your heart rate up on the floor. Only downside is that the studios (there are a multitude of locations across the city) tend to be smaller. BUT the workout is far less intimidating and less “clubby” compared to Barry’s. There are too many great instructors, but to name just a few: my girl Caroleen, the always bubbly Wicker Park manager Julie, the svelte Alex and the sweet, but tough Alice. This one’s great for a less intimidating, but sweat-tastic workout, especially for runners who get bored with the “dreadmill” or flats of Chicago trails.

That’s a wrap! Holy roundup! The HIIT space is definitely getting bigger by the day and tough to keep track of all the options. But, variety is the spice of life! I highly recommend all of these studios for varying reasons and am always happy to answer questions – so HIIT me up if you want the real deal on any classes in Chicago because…I get around.

Photos courtesy of Studio Three, Shred415 and Barry’s Bootcamp. All classes attended by me, paid for by me!

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