Gaining Confidence and True Friends… The Sports Bra Challenge

Posted on May 27, 2012 by kymarie13

I actually wrote this post a week ago and I sent it to a friend to check. When I sent it to her I knew something was missing and I knew exactly what it was. When I got her comments back, there it was staring me in the face in black and white “it would be nice to hear more about your personal experience at the event, as opposed to just what the event was.” I know I can write about the things I do but I know I am lacking when it comes to sharing my personal experiences. Funny you would think if someone starts a blog they would be able to share but that is not always the case.

About a week and a half ago, I took a SoulCycle class in the middle of Union Square in my sports bra. Why did I decide to spin half-naked in public? That is an easy answer, to help support the S.E.A.K. Foundation’s mission to help give teens and younger adults the courage to feel comfortable in their own bodies and to hang out with some amazing friends I have made since I started taking classes at SoulCycle.

If you told me I would be doing this when I was younger there would have been NO WAY I would have gotten on that bike, but as I got older I started to realize one important thing. It doesn’t matter what you look like, what matters is the people you surround yourself with. They will give you the confidence you need to grow and strive. Growing up I had a lot of negative friends in my life and a lot of positive ones (one in particular that has been my best friend since 5th grade). Over the years I quickly realized that no matter what I looked like my true friends were always there to support me.

Since I have moved to New York I have become somewhat of a Fitness Fanatic (okay who am I kidding here, I am TOTALLY a Fitness Fanatic). A lot of what I do and talk about is fitness related and bless my friend’s hearts, always talking about that can get annoying. When I started SoulCycle I met some amazing people who I now consider some of my closest friends. Not only do they get my crazy fitness habits they get me. I can’t imagine not spending my Saturday nights with them, I don’t know many other groups that can finish off 8 pastas and 6 pizzas (Partee). So going out to ride in the Sports Bra Challenge was not only to support a great cause but to be out there with my friends that give me confidence and inspire me to always give it my all. You guys know who you are, I am so thankful I have met you.

Alright now on to the event itself. This was S.E.AK. Foundation’s second annual Sports Bra Challenge. The Sports Bra Challenge is a day-long charity fitness event centered around women working out in a series of group fitness classes in their sports bras. Men and woman came out to support and empower one another to feel comfortable in their bodies – exactly as they are. This year the challenge supported the City of Hope’s Positive Image Center, which helps cancer patients regain and retain confidence in how they look while undergoing treatment.

The Sport’s Bra Challenge started at 2:00pm with a live performance by No Way Josie and then throughout the day they offered a yoga class and Crunch fitness class called Pound Rockout. At 5:00pm and 6:00pm they had two SoulCycle classes with a 100 riders each! For a special music performance they brought PS22 from Staten Island (the same choir that sang to President Obama) to perform the last couple of songs for each of the rides. SoulCycle classes are always an amazing workout, but the best part was the experience and seeing everyone that came out to support the cause. Even Olivia Ward (The winner of the Biggest Loser Season 11) and her sister Hannah Curlee came out to support the cause. Just seeing everyone have the confidence to ride in their sports bras was very empowering. I am so happy I was able to be a part of such an amazing event (See me below in the neon orange sports bra, I am towards the back).

Photography Credit: Gail Tobias

S.E.A.K. (Strive, Embrace, Achieve, Know) is a non-profit foundation that helps teens and young adults express themselves, feel comfortable with who they are both mentally and physically, and discover the inner-confidence and passion to achieve their goals.  S.E.A.K.’s educational resources and services include after-school programming focused on fitness, nutrition, health and other aspects of personal wellness. To find out more about S.E.A.K. and how you can get involved please visit their website or Facebook page. You can also check out this article about The Sports Bra Challenge by, the Director and Co-founder of S.E.A.K., Jenny Gaither.

I hope you are having an amazing Memorial Day weekend and I hope that you surround yourself with people who give you the confidence to be yourself. Friends are truly one of the most powerful things you can have in your life.

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Becoming an Avenger, First Stop: Barry’s Bootcamp

Posted on May 16, 2012 by kymarie13

After seeing The Avengers I decided I wanted to join the team and what better place to start than Barry’s Bootcamp. I had been hearing about it a lot recently. Especially in the twitter world, Kim Kardashian tweets about it on an almost regular basis.

When one of my good friend’s from SoulCyle invited me to go I knew I could not miss out on this opportunity. Barry’s Bootcamp was founded in West Hollywood, CA in 1998 by Barry Jay Stitch, John S. Mumford & Rachel Mumford. They wanted to create a no-nonsense workout that would provide the best cardio and strength training in one hour. In 2005  Joey Gonzalez joined and helped expand Barry’s to San Diego and New York (THANK YOU for bringing it to the East Coast).

Barry’s is made up of 2-30 minute segments, 6-10 minute segments or 4-15 minute segments depending on what workout the trainer wants to put you through and there is always a 5 minute cool down and stretch at the end. In the New York studio there is room for 40 people, 20 people start on the floor and 20 people start on the treadmill (Tip: Some people like to come early so they can get a spot for what they want to do first. I personally would like to do the treadmill first to get that pure evil over with but my friend insists we always start on the floor. It is totally personal preference.)

There is one trainer, who keeps time of everything and despite the fact that they have to manage two groups of people, they do a pretty amazing job. Every day of the week features a different workout, for New York the schedule is currently:

  • Monday: Arms & Abs
  • Tuesday: Butt, Legs & Shoulders
  • Wednesday: Chest, Back & Abs
  • Thursday: HARD Core
  • Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Full Body
    • I should mention there is a “Dance party” on Saturday Nights

On Monday night I took my second Barry’s Bootcamp class, when you walk into the room it’s like walking into a dance club except with steps and treadmills. They have tinted red glowing lights, play awesome music and everyone is half-dressed so you can pretend like you are in a dance club and it actually might help you take your mind off the pain you’re putting your body through ( I promise this is the good kind of pain). The trainer that night was Patrick Frost who looked harmless at first but as soon as he said start was no longer harmless and his name became FROST. We did 4-15 minute segments, I started on the floor where we did an arm series with a body bar & resistance band and then we ended with an ab series. My face made a lot of funny faces going through this workout and my arms were screaming at me but I loved every second. After that we moved to my favorite part, the treadmill. On the treadmill we did a 15 minute set of jogs, runs, and pushes. FROST likes to say a jog is anywhere between a 5.5 to a 6.5, a run is a 7.5-9, and a push well that’s your highest push and he likes to see double digits. Not only did he have us doing 30 second pushes, we were doing runs on 5-8% inclines. I would like to say I was glistening during this workout but lets just face it, I was sweating my ass off. After we finished that torture we still had 2 sets left, one 15 minute set on the floor using a heavy dumbbell and another 15 minute set on the treadmill where FROST gave us a heart to heart and said listen I need you in your RED zone which to him is like a 12-15 on a treadmill, can you even go to a 15 on a treadmill? FROST all I have to say to you is, you are a total BADASS and I love it.

I am happy to report after we finished this workout I did not throw up and my fat was crying (Burn baby burn). I only found out after class that FROST said that was his 90%, which in my opinion I thought that was 110% so I am thinking the day he brings the 110% I will have thrown up at the end of class. I will keep you posted. Bottom line, it sounds a bit scary and that’s because it pushes you to where you didn’t think you could ever go. I did a sprint at a 9.5 on a treadmill, and I used to think a sprint was 7. This class is no-nonsense and you will see results. I have a very good feeling that if you did Barry’s Bootcamp 3x a week and ate a clean diet, you would see amazing results. “Burning fat, tightening up the body and building muscle has never been easier…” and that is because they don’t give you time to think about it, that hour is over before it started and you are out the door smiling about the insane workout you just accomplished.

So if you haven’t tried Barry’s Bootcamp, I highly recommend you try it once. Barry’s is expanding in New York, not only will they have the Chelsea studio, they are also opening a TriBeCa studio as well as a Hampton’s studio for your summer fun (no excuses). Prices in New York are as follows:

1 CLASS $32
5 CLASSES $150 ($30)
10 CLASSES $285 ($28.5)
20 CLASSES $540 ($27)
30 CLASSES $780 ($26)
50 CLASSES $1250 ($25)

They also offer a couple of packages and they have the Academy where you go to Barry’s 5 days a week for 4 weeks, I want to try that so bad!! The cost of the Academy is $385 for 4 weeks. Not to bad if you can make the commitment but if you do this make sure that your diet is in check because you can NOT out-train a bad diet (just saying…).  Oh if you are wondering they do have a small locker room with two showers, free lockers and towels, and an amazing smoothie bar for your post workout protein shakes. If you want to take a class and don’t want to go alone, email me. I am always down for Barry’s Bootcamp!

  • Share the Barry’s love on Facebook
  • Tweet Barry’s
  • If there isn’t a Barry’s Bootcamp near you they sell DVDs, I haven’t tried them yet to compare but I will keep you posted

 (aka Avenger in training)

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SELF Magazine Workout in the Park 2012 Giveaway!

Posted on May 2, 2012 by kymarie13

I know this is crazy two posts in one day but summer is coming and that means it’s time for the annual SELF Workout in the Park! I was lucky enough to attend SELF magazine’s Workout in the Park back in 2010, sadly I was not in town last year but I can’t wait to go again this year! I met some amazing people when I went the last time and I am really looking forward to this year.

This is SELF magazine’s 19th Annual Workout in the Park event.  It takes place on Saturday, May 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Rumsey Playfield in New York.  It will happen rain or shine! SELF Workout in the Park  features a full day of hands-on workouts and workshops. You can also enjoy a sampling of healthy and delicious foods, indulge in mini-spa services, demo the latest beauty and fitness products and score lots of free samples and goodies courtesy of SELF’s sponsors.  This year the workout in the park will be hosted by Dolvett Quince, celebrity trainer on The Biggest Loser. Workouts are provided and led by Crunch and this year there is even a Reebok  Zone where you can do a Crossfit WOD. Some of the workouts they will have this year are: Ab Attack, Fly Girls, Sucker Punch, and Tabura. To see the entire class schedule click here.

Tickets for the event are $20 but it includes a one-year subscription to SELF magazine. You can not purchase tickets on site so you must buy them online ahead of time. So grab some girlfriends and come to Central Park to check out this fun event, I will be there (most likely in hot pink).

I am excited to announce that one Shape Up NYC reader can win a SELF Fit Kit (valued at $200) and a pass to the SELF Workout in the Park! Inside the FIt kit you will find: SELF magazines, ear buds, an official WIP water bottle, fitness DVDs, month-long membership to Crunch and many more promotional items from sponsors like Garnier, Calvin Klein, Luna, La Roche-Posay, and lucy). One of my favorite things is the tote bag from lucy.

How to enter:

1) Tweet about the giveaway: “Win a SELF Workout in the Park Fit Kit from @kymarie13! Enter here: http://wp.me/pMzht-A5″

2) Leave me a comment telling me what workout you are most excited to try at the SELF Workout in the Park! (I personally want to try Masala Bhangra and Tabura)

And as a bonus if you like the Shape Up NYC Facebook page, I will give you an extra entry!

I will choose a random winner on Sunday, May 6th at 9:00pm EST. Good luck!

* If you do not live in New York you are still eligible to enter but you will have to provide your own transportation to the New York SELF Workout in the Park if you want to attend. If not you can just enjoy the free swag :)

Filed under: MISC Wellness Info, Workouts | Tagged: , , , , , , | 11 Comments »

It’s time to FLY for Fisher House

Posted on May 2, 2012 by kymarie13

I am a huge fan of action movies. I have seen them all. This weekend when I was at home visiting my family, my mom, sister and I decided to go see Act of Valor. I had heard a lot about this movie since they had used actual Navy Seals to film it so I was very excited to see it. While watching it, I was amazed at the bravery these men had. They give up everything to defend our Country. Even if it was only a movie, it was more realistic for me knowing that the men in this movie were actually some of the men out there protecting our Country. At the end of the movie they recited a poem that inspired me to make sure that I live every day without regrets.

Strangely enough after I got out of the movie I received an email from a fellow blogger, Abby, who writes Run Stronger Every Day. Her husband is in the United States Marine Corps and while he was out on his second tour she wanted to get involved so she found the Fisher House Foundation and became part of their inaugural marathon team. She has now run 6 marathons with Team Fisher House and raised over $25,000. The Fisher House Foundation builds houses near military hospitals for the families of injured soldiers to stay for free while their soldier is recovering in the hospital. This year for the first time, Abby and her husband will be running the Marine Corps Marathon together as members of Team Fisher House.

To raise money for this they will be hosting a ride at Flywheel (UES) THIS SATURDAY, May 5th at 3pm. Master instructors Aleah Stander and former Marine, Steven Little have donated their time and will be leading the ride. To get a bike for this amazing ride all you have to do is donate $50 to Team Fisher House. For instructions on how to donate please email runstrongereveryday@gmail.com. Donate quickly because I know the bikes will fill up fast. Along with an amazing ride there will also have an awesome raffle that will take place after the ride with a sweet treat from the Soft Serve Fruit Co. You will not want to miss this. Even if you can’t make it you should still donate because it is for such an amazing cause. For more information on the ride and the raffle you can check out her website here or go to the Facebook page. With that I leave you with the poem from the end of Act of Valor, I hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me and I hope to see you at the ride on Saturday…

 “ So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

 Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

 When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.” – Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh

 

Filed under: MISC Wellness Info, Workouts | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: The Black Box, Crossfit NYC

Posted on April 26, 2012 by kymarie13

When my good friend, Bianca from MizzFit, asked me to try Crossfit with her, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Crossfit has been becoming quite the fitness phenomenon and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Bob Harper, trainer from the Biggest Loser, swears by it.

“Dude, it has been the best, most eye-opening experience for me. I’ve been in the training business for over twenty years and all of a sudden I start doing Crossfit and you know what it just all makes sense to me now.” – Bob Harper

It also caught my attention when Reebok came out with an entire clothing and shoe line exclusively for Crossfit. If this workout has its own line of clothing it must be good (clearly my head is in the right place). Crossfit was founded in 2000 by Greg Glassman. Crossfit is known for its virtual online community where the workout of the day (WOD) is posted daily along with blog posts about members and the upcoming games. You can participate in Crossfit two ways, either on your own getting by getting your workouts online daily or going to one of 3,400 CrossFit-affiliated gyms (aka “boxes”) worldwide (most are located in the US). In 2010 Reebok signed a 10-year deal with Crossfit, and in 2011 sponsored the annual Crossfit games which have been going on since 2007.

So what exactly is Crossfit? Crossfit is exercise program that focuses on strength and conditioning with the goal of improving your fitness level. “Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing.”  

If you really want to know all the details click here and enjoy the 11 page read. The types of exercises you can expect to see at a Crossfit gym  are functional movements (like pushups and pullups, deadlifts and squats, gymnastics, kettlebells, running, rowing, and olympic lifting), executed at high intensity in a group setting.

In New York City there are 6 “boxes”. I checked out the Black Box (aka Crossfit NYC) located on 25 West 26th Street. Walking the couple of blocks from my apartment to the Black Box I was extremely nervous, I had no idea what to expect. All I had heard was everyone passes out and since I have T-Rex arms I knew my chances of this happening to me were great. I walked into a large loft space that had bench presses around the outside of the room, pull up bars hanging all around the room and various fitness equipment scattered about. There was a WOD class going on as well as a clearly experienced Crossfitter with his shirt off running laps around the loft (I did not mind this). I would say the make-up of the people there were mostly guys but there was a good amount of girls there as well. Since I got there early I decided to make friends with some of the guys standing around me. One said he had been going there for a couple of months so he could get back in shape. He said so far the results has been great. He also reassured me I wouldn’t die (thank goodness, I had a double Soul Cycle class the next day I did not want to miss).

The way the classes are set up is there is an intro class which anyone can take for free (did you see that, I said FREE). After you take the intro class you can decide if you want to sign up for the two-week elements workshop. The elements workshop meets 3x a week for two weeks (6 sessions total in case you didn’t drink your coffee today). EVERYONE MUST TAKE THE ELEMENTS WORKSHOP to be allowed into their WOD classes. It does not matter how fit you are you must take this workshop. You would be surprised how many people do not know the correct way to do a proper squat or pushup. Once you have completed the elements workshop you can start doing the WOD workouts. The Black Box offers 3 different WODs: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

I was lucky enough to drop-in on one of the sessions of the elements course. That day we were learning the proper form of a pushup, squat, and a pull-up from a badass instructor named Jeff. The first 45 minutes of the class went through the proper forms of the exercises and the last 15 minutes was dedicated to a workout. During the 45 minutes of proper form it was quite educational to learn that I could not do a pushup with my T-Rex arms and watching me TRY to get into a sling band to help me with my pull-ups was highly entertaining. MizzFit was kicking herself for not filming me (I was honestly happy she couldn’t get to her phone in time). During the last 15 minutes I was put through a workout that  would result in me not being able to walk for the next 3 days. What did this magical workout consist of, you ask… 1 minute of squats with a 10 second rest x 4 and 1 minute of pushups with a 10 second rest x 4. That was it! And I am telling you I could NOT walk. It was the most pain my legs had been in (my legs hurt more from this than from running a half marathon).

After my experience I can now see why people do it and get addicted to it. You get great results and you build strength (you can also wear the cool knee-high socks everyone seems to wear, but you should know this trend hasn’t picked up in New York yet). The key to this workout is just showing up. If you don’t show up, you won’t get results it is that simple. MizzFit had a different viewpoint on the class which I am sure she will write about soon so check out her website. Will I join? I don’t know yet because I love trying lots of different classes (but that tends to be my downfall in fitness, too much variety). If I do join I will make sure to let you know. For more information click any of the links below:

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  • About Me

    Hello! My name is Kristine and I live and work in New York City. Since I have been here I have realized how hard it is to maintain a healthy balance while living in the City. Work starts to consume your life and you can get lost in everything around you.

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