National Dance Day

Yesterday was National Dance Day and to celebrate I taught a 45 minute dance/ZUMBA class to some awesome and energetic dancers and then bustled over to  Lululemon Pudential Center to dance in their window! This is not the first time I have done this, and hope it won't be the last. The different reactions I get from walker-byers are priceless! You have people smiling, waving, and cheering as they walk by. You have people who stand and watch and those who quickly hustle by and not even make eye contact. My favorite are the little boys and girls who watch in amazement and then start dancing with me!

The whole crew at Lululemon was so supportive and excited to dance. I even had Laurin, one of the assistant managers, jump on the "stage" and boogie with me! Thank you Saturday morning dance crew girls and Lululemon Atheltica for sharing National Dance Day with me!

Photos from the window dancing :

I am wearing Dignity Halter and Wunder Under Crop Light

Bikes around Boston!

Hubway has come to Boston. Launched today at 11am, New Balance Hubway is a bike sharing system (kind of like zipcar, but far more green!)

I had heard rumor of a bike transit system coming to Boston, and was so excited to see the Hubway stands up and ready to use today! Such a cool system that I will be testing out!

I saw this stand in my neck of the woods, the North End.

The gears!

How it works: A bike costs $5 for a 24 hour period and $12 for a three day period. An annual membership is $85 (there is a special price of $60 until the end of July).

Your ride is free for the first 30 minutes! Be aware you need a credit card to rent the bikes. There is a $101 security deposit placed on the card, then returned to you when the bike is returned.

There are 61 stations set up around the city, providing 610 bikes. I have so far seen 4 New Balance Hubway stands. Where have you seen them? GO RIDE!

stretch at your desk

Take a minute, and do this video.   [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xr1VtitdAg?hd=1&w=500&h=314]

Get up and go for a walk.

Drink a whole bottle of water.

And Repeat!

Barre Burn makes STUFF magazine HOT100 Issue 2011

And you still havn't tried it?!  Come join Jennifer Phelan, Kristy DiScipio, Shandell Raposa or me at Equinox Boston and see what makes it so hot.

I teach Barre Burn

Monday nights Back Bay 6:30-715pm

Tuesday Franklin street 6:45-7:30am

Friday Back Bay 6:30am-7am

Do you eat before you work out?

I know many people who are able to go to the gym in the early morning without anything in their stomach. In fact, they say they can not work out in the morning if they eat. I personally need to eat something before I hit the gym. If I do not eat I feel shaky and light-headed, and feel that my energy slacks. Some people choose not to eat breakfast in the morning because of the idea that if you work out on an empty stomach your body will dip into the fat to give you the energy rather than work from the food you just ate.  This does sound convincing, but recent research is showing that this is not the case, and not eating before a workout may actually work against you!

Studies published this year in Strength and Conditioning Journal showed that the body burns roughly the same amount of fat regardless of whether you eat before or after a workout. But those who went to the gym on an empty stomach lost more muscle than those who ate before.

My go to snack before a workout is  whole wheat toast PB and sliced apples or a banana and yogurt. Sometimes a handful of nuts and dried fruit does the trick!

So to sum it up: according to Strength and Conditioning Journal working out on an empty stomach will not burn more fat.

What Sweat with Lauren Hefez fans are eating before they workout:

• vans gluten free waffle with a spoonful of Greek yogurt on top (sounds yummy right? Follow her blog)
• a banana ( simple and wonderful)
• oatmeal is breakfast for MVP Fitness founder and trainer James
• nothing! (said Kerri, Equinox goer, LH and TAM lover :)

Do you eat before you workout? If so, what is your go to breakfast?