ClassPass San Diego

Heading off to yoga in my brand new tank, courtesy of ClassPass

It's about that time of the year,

when clothes start getting bulkier, and foods start getting heartier.

It's usually dark by the time I get home from work, 

which just makes it that much easier for me to make excuses of why I should lay on the couch as opposed to hitting the gym. 

Excuses, excuses. 

Enter ClassPass San Diego. 

Excuses, gone!

I was contacted about trying out a free month of their services last week,

and I fell in love with the concept!

ClassPass is an alternative to a typical gym membership, with a lot more options! 

For $99/month you are able to visit unlimited classes at multiple studios,

and let me just tell you,

the selection of participating studios is AWESOME!

This week, for example, 

I'm going to pilates on Wednesday, kettlebell training on Thursday, yoga on Friday, and spin on Sunday. 

I'm like a kid in a candy store! 

The healthiest candy known to man, obviously.

ClassPass is brand new to San Diego, 

having just launched here last week!

We are the latest city to join NYC, Boston, San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Seattle. 

As a member, you are limited to 3 classes per studio per month. 

But don't worry, once the next month starts, you can visit that favorite studio again 3 more times! 

Other than that, the membership is unlimited. 

If you're curious about ClassPass but have more questions, check out their FAQ page here,

or feel free to shoot me an email. 

I'll be sharing a review of my experience with ClassPass in about a month,

so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I hope you take advantage of ClassPass yourself. 

Why wait till the first of the year?

The Great Urban Race

Do you guys watch the Amazing Race?

It's such a good show!

I always watch it on the edge of my seat,

constantly fantasizing about how the husband and I would do if we were ever cast on the show.

Luckily, I didn't have to sit around and wait for the producers to call,

because San Diego hosted the Great Urban Race this weekend,

and guess who had a chance to participate?

THIS GIRL!

Now, I have to be honest.. this wasn't my first rodeo. 

I've actually done a few of these types of challenges in the past,

but the Great Urban Race was by far the most fun I've ever had. 

If you've never done anything like this before, 

I highly recommend you to sign up next time. 

The concept is fairly simple - in the beginning of the day,

your team gets a clue sheet that essentially acts as a scavenger hunt map.

The hardest part is figuring out the riddles that hide the location of each destination.

You have to know the city you're participating in pretty well.

Not a challenge for this San Diego lover!

We kicked the day off at Whiskey Girl - a prime location in the middle of the Gaslamp district.

The whole event was a party from the jump,

and how could it not be, 

with the main event sponsor being Bacardi Oakheart?!

We may have taken longer than we were supposed to when working on our clues,

because those Bacardi mixed drinks were going down way too smooth. Hah!

Once my team figured out where we needed to go, we were off to the races!

This challenge took us all around downtown San Diego - 

from Seaport Village, up to Cortez Hill,

and everywhere in between. 

Each destination presented us with a different challenge. 

From eating larvae to showing off some yoga moves,

we had a chance to do a little bit of everything that day,

and I even captured some of it with my flip cam, provided by Bacardi Oakheart. 

I'm so glad I have some of this footage. 

So fun to look back on the great memories and get excited for next year!

Who'll be joining us?

I'll see you there, Bacardi in hand. 

What do you think?

Are you ready to sign up for the next round?!

A huge thank you to Bacardi Oakheart for sponsoring me and my awesome team!

Color in Motion 5K - This Weekend!

Happy Friday peeps!

Remember when I told you about the Color in Motion 5k coming to San Diego?!

Well the time is finally here!

This Saturday, August 24th, 

I'll be along hundreds of others, as we run through the rainbow storm. 

It's going to be so fun!

And guess what? 

You can still register and join me!

Even better news?

We've increased the discount rate that you can take advantage of by using 

the promo code "LoveSanDiego" at checkout. 

You can now receive 30% off the registration rate! 

So what are you waiting for?

Register today, and join me tomorrow morning for the most exciting way to exercise you'll experience all year. 

Live Beaming

To me, living in California coincides with living a healthy lifestyle. 

One of my favorite things about summer, is the ability to spend majority of my free time outdoors. 

Being healthy and fit does not mean that you can only eat chicken breasts and veggies after spending excruciating hours pounding away on a treadmill. 

Sounds like torture, doesn't it? 

Why do that to ourselves when we can get similar benefits from hiking by the ocean and bbqing seasonal produce with our friends and family? 

Alright, so maybe I don't have the luxury to make it to the beach every single day, 

or stock up on the freshest veggies from the farmers market..

but like I've said before - everything is good in moderation. 

I'm constantly trying to prioritize through a jam-packed schedule. 

Between a full-time job, a part-time load at a local university, and a very active social schedule,

I too find it difficult to stay on my fitness and nutrition game sometimes. 

But it doesn't have to be so hard you guys!

A few weeks ago, I was invited to come check out Beaming,

an organic juice & superfood vitality bar, located right off the freeway, in Del Mar, California.

Now I'm no stranger to juicing, and I whole-heatedly believe in the company's mantra, 

that when "you live healthy, you glow from within". 

But here's what makes Beaming stand out from other companies around San Diego -

they're not restrictive. 

Their cleanse programs make it easy on you by including not only cold pressed juices,

but also smoothies, soups, elixirs, and... wait for it... raw entrees.

You want to know why that's so great? 

Because the hardest thing that I found about juicing was not being hungry,

because most of the time I'm so full of liquid that I'm honestly not famished..

No, the hardest thing about juicing for me personally, is that I miss chewing! 

Ha ha it's true. #firstworldproblems

Anyway, back to Beaming. 

The company was kind enough to invite me over, educate me about all their amazing products, and even give me a bunch of goodies to take home with me so I can share my story with all of you. 

I walked out with a yummy smoothie in my hand (a Sexy Mayan to be exact, omg, so good!),

a bag full of juices and salads, and a huge smile of my face. 

I incorporated the Beaming products into my on-the-go lifestyle over the next few days,

and guess what?

I feel amazing. 

The best part is that all the products I tried are delicious, so it really doesn't feel like dieting or being restrictive. 

Just living a healthy lifestyle, which is what it's all about anyway!

A freshly pulsed Sexy Mayan, a unique mix of almond milk, Beaming Protein, raw cacao, banana, date, maca, vanilla, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg. Sooo good!

Playing the balancing game by mixing the Beaming Mary juice with a swig of vodka, at a friend's BBQ brunch. 

An otherwise boring midweek dinner spiced up with the addition of Coconut Ceviche. Perfect for summer!

While spending a day at the spa with one of my besties, I didn't want to gorge on a huge lunch and feel bloated in my bikini. Beaming to the rescue! I threw a Salad Spinner juice in my bag, sipped it when I was hungry, and felt great all day!

On a particularly hot day, the husband and I decided to hit the beach. A chilled Fennel Love juice was a perfect, refreshing snack while we were soaking in the sun. 

One of my favorite hikes to do in San Diego is around Torrey Pines. I like to head there straight after work to catch the sunset on the way up. The Beaming Protein Bites are the perfect size to reboot my energy and keep me full until dinner time.

I hope this post was a good reminder that living healthy does not have to be hard! 

The Beaming lifestyle is just one option to make it easier to incorporate superfood into your active lifestyle. 

bBar Del Mar

2683 Via de la Valle

Del Mar, CA 

Color in Motion 5k Run

Heyooo San Diego!

Today I have some VERY exciting news for you.

There's a rainbow storm coming our way,

and we all have a chance to play storm chasers.

Whaaaa?

No, I didn't have magic mushrooms in my lucky charms this morning.

I'm talking about the Color in Motion run,

a 5k course through beautiful San Diego,

that will transform a group of ordinary runners into a moving rainbow.

Sounds awesome right?

How exactly does it work?

Just show up to the starting line decked out in white,

and then proceed to sprint, jog, waddle, or leisurely stroll along for a little more than 3 miles while getting splattered with bombs of colored paint.

Don't worry, the color is not even actual paint, so it's 100% safe and easy to clean,

(but who wants to be clean when you can be colorful?).

Interested?

I thought so.

Here are the deets:

the run is scheduled for August 24, 2013 @ 9:00 a.m.

Sign up for the race individually,

or get a whole slew of your friends together as a team.

And finally for the best news -

I have partnered with this wonderful organization to promote fun & fitness in San Diego, 

and we're offering all my lovely readers a discount!!

Just use the promo code LoveSanDiego to receive 15% off your registration at checkout.

So what are you waiting for?

It's going to be an epic day in America's Finest City,

so grab your white tee and meet me at the starting line!

See you there!

Push It

Pretty frequently, I receive comments and emails asking me to share some of my fitness tips. 

I obviously eat out A LOT,

and although I don't consider myself to be anywhere near my ideal body type,

I do think it's important to stay balanced and healthy. 

Working out is actually a huge part of my life,

and I think the easiest way to keep active is to change up your gym schedule in order to keep it interesting. 

At the moment, I currently have three different memberships going on:

- 24 hour fitness, where I love to take Body Pump and Body Combat classes,

- Hapa Yoga to stay limber,

- and my most recent obsession, Barry's Boot Camp, to kick my butt at least once a week. 

But even with all that, it's still possible to get into a workout rut,

so in order to shock my muscles I'm always open to trying out new things. 

Que The Push House. 

Last week, I was invited to check out San Diego's first and only Pilates, Booty Barre and RealRyder fitness studio.

I already knew that spin classes are a great way to get your cardio fix,

but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to check out the RealRyder indoor cycle,

which tilts side-to-side and gives riders a total body workout. 

These bikes are no joke!

Kris, my pedal instructor for the day, had me sweating before the warm-up track even ended,

and I can honestly say that my booty was feeling the pain the next day!

Although the pedal class is designed to suit all levels, novice to pro,

be advised that the whole tilting thing takes a little bit of getting used to. 

Going at your own pace is definitely key,

and with the instructors support, I was able to catch the rhythm by the end of the hour-long class. 

As an incentive to check out the new studio,

the Push House is offering an introductory price of just $10 for the first pilates, pedal or barre class. 

I know I'll definitely be back for more booty-toning exercises,

and I hope you check it out too! 

The Push House

191 N. El Camino Real #212

Encinitas, CA 92024

Mount Woodson

Hi guys! 

How was your Christmas??

Ours flew by like a whirlwind,

but I'm happy to report that I was actually able to tear myself away from stuffing my face a few times,

and spend some time outdoors. 

I've been wanting to hike Mount Woodson for a while now,

and getting a few extra days off work seemed like a perfect opportunity to do just that. 

Situated above beautiful Lake Poway,

the trail offers stunning views of San Diego,

and if you look closely, you may even catch a glimpse of the dowtown skyline. 

The whole hike takes approximately three hours (roundtrip),

with the best reward being the photo-op at the Potato Chip Rock (<-- actual name).

Walking on top of the world is a little bit intimidating if you suffer from acrophobia like I do.
But the views are so worth it!

Conquered the famous Potato Chip Rock!
It does, in fact, look like a pringle. Right?

If you're in San Diego and in the mood for a challenge,

I definitely recommend this trail. 

It's more difficult than Cowles Mountain,

which is my usual pick for an outdoors cardio session,

but it's definitely manageable. 

My booty-cheeks hurt so good the next day!

Xtend Barre Giveaway

News flash ladies,

did you know that bikini season is officially upon us?

Now I know that all of you are already in tip-top shape,

so I have a special treat to help maintain those svelte figures.

I like to think that I live a pretty healthy lifestyle.

Even though I'm a big fan of dining out, I try to stick to a nutricious diet majority of the time.

And although there are times when I need extra motivation to get into the gym, I push myself to be accountable for the amount of times I exercise throughout the week.

When it comes to fitness, I've found that variety is key.

No matter how much I love to hate that stairmaster,

there's just no way that I can keep hopping on it day after day without changing it up.

I'm personally a HUGE fan of classes.

Spin, body pump, yoga, crossfit...

you name it, I've probably done it.

Maybe it's my competitive nature,

or the fact that the hour seems to fly by when I'm trying to keep up with the rest of the class,

but either way, I think it's one of the best ways to streamline your weight-loss.

Like I said, I love trying new things and constantly challenging myself,

so I was delighted to be contacted by Be Social PR with an offer to try out an Xtend Barre class in my area.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I've never tried this technique before,

well with the exception of my astute career as a miniature ballerina when I was eight years old and living in Russia, which was tragically cut short by first signs of breast development... life ain't fair, I know.

Let me tell you something friends,

I did NOT expect this class to challenge every single muscle in my body!

 I was amazed that by the time I walked out of the studio,

I was drenched in sweat, and already feeling first signs of soreness.

Sweet success!

And now you can experience it for yourself,

because I have partenered with Xtend Barre to host a very special giveaway!

A two-week, unlimited membership redeemable at both Xtend Barre Carlsbad AND Carmel Valley locations, can be yours if you win.

To enter the giveaway, you probably want to be a So Cal resident, and do the following easy peasy steps:

1. Follow In Love With San Diego on GFC or Bloglovin.

2. Follow @inlovewsandiego on Twitter.

3. Depending on which location is closest to you, follow either @xtendcrmlvalley or @xtendcarlsbad on Twitter.

4. Leave a comment on this post with your email address.

And that's it!

The contest is open until June 29th, 2012, and the winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck!

Clean It Up!

I've been planning to do a juice cleanse for a LONG time.. 

In the past couple of months, I have found numerous reasons for putting it off,

but at the end of the day,

the benefits outweighed my fears (of starvation, obviously).

Last week, I finally committed to consume nothing but juice for two whole days.

If you've detoxed before,

you're probably reading this and thinking:

"Wimp. Two days? That's nothing!"

Maybe you're right,

but for a virgin cleanser like myself,

two days sounded like a mighty long time. 

Choosing the right program was tough..

there are so many cleanses out there, 

and it's easy to get overwhelmed. 

I knew I couldn't survive on water with lemon and cayenne pepper alone, 

forget about it. 

I wanted something wholesome and nutritious,

and that's when I came across Nekter Juice Bar.

The Nekter Cleanse is different from fasting;

it provides enough nutrients with limited calories.

The drink formulas are specifically designed to rid your body of toxic buildup in the organs, digestive tract and even in the skin. 

I can't say that it's the best-tasting formula I've ever consumed,

but I'll tell you one thing,

those juices sure keep you full! 

You're supposed to consume a 16 oz. bottle every two hours or so,

and I could barely get through five bottles each day! 

The last drink of the day was my favorite -

if you like cashews, I'm sure it will be your favorite too. 

What can you expect as far as results?

Well... I did lose three pounds in two days,

and my skin does seem brighter this week. 

I can't say that you will react the same way as me,

because obviously everyone's body is so different.

However, I do feel healthier,

and whether that's true, or if it's all in my head,

I don't really care. 

At the end, all that matters is how you feel, right?

And I feel great! 

Have you ever tried a cleanse before?

Is there a specific brand you recommend?

P.S. I'm currently in Miami,

so I apologize for the lack of posts. 

I promise lots of fun photos upon my return!

In the meantime, you can keep up with my adventures through my Instagram.