Taking risks, going places, living life through many phases

Barre3: Week 1 Update

by jan

I have completed my first week working out at Barre3, having gone to five classes. I am capable of completing each and every single class, some more challenging than others.

My experience has been very positive so far. I haven’t noticed that much change in my body but it’s only been a week. However, I have lost 1.4 lbs. It’s not a lot but it adds up. If I go at this rate, I will lose at least 20 lbs by my wedding day (sometime late summer or early fall).

So far Barre3 has contributed to my health and I actually get excited about going.

I tried to get into a full Barre3 class today and was first on the wait list. Because the class was jam packed, I couldn’t get in. I ended up offering to give up my place on the wait list since I live so close and could just take a later class (plus I don’t like being in full classes where I’m practically touching other students with outstretched arms).

The front desk person was very sweet and gave me a gift certificate for a free class (worth $20). Not only that, she just e-mailed me a few minutes ago apologizing that I could not get into the class and thanking me for being a great client. Seriously.

I’m pretty moved by how thoughtful they are. It’s pretty awesome. They seriously know how to reach out to people and remind them that they belong.

I’m considering posting before and after photos. Still considering it. Maybe give monthly updates and photos? We’ll see.

Related posts:

See You Soon, Healthy Body!
My Top Five Convenient Post-Workout Snacks
The Power of Charging a Cancellation Fee at Barre3

Quick Pho Review: Pho DaLat

by jan

Pho makes me happy. It really does. Whenever it’s cold out and the fiancé and I are too lazy to do anything, we always end up pushing through and driving out to get pho. Being from Oakland, I was afraid that Portland would lack good Asian food. Of course this fear went away after a few visits here and I realized that Portland was a totally diverse food haven and has some pretty great pho spots perfect for the winter. Unfortunately, like the rest of the nation except NYC, most of them close at 9.

We were pretty bummed out when we couldn’t make it to our usual pho place last night so we ended up at Pho DaLat (2?), a pho restaurant that was open until 10.

I ordered a C-2 and Patrick ordered…something else. Our orders got mixed up on delivery. We started eating each other’s pho until he realized that there was tripe in his soup (making it mine). We both had splashed tons of hot chili oil in our pho before we started gorging. Luckily, we have similar spice levels so simply trading the soups was no big deal. Whew!

The pho was pretty good. The broth was very rich and the meat was tender. The noodles were nice and easy to eat.

A small pho was $6.50 each and it was the perfect size. To get a large, one must have a larger appetite. Although we were both pretty hungry, we knew that two small phos would suffice.

We left feeling pleasantly full and very satisfied.

I’d have to give Pho DaLat about a 7.5 or 8 out of 10.  Great food and great, quick service.

Pho DaLat is located at 1314 SE 39th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 (across the street from Fred Meyer).

Related posts:

My Top Five Convenient Post-Workout Snacks
The Power of Charging a Cancellation Fee at Barre3
Barre3: Week 1 Update

The Power of Charging a Cancellation Fee at Barre3

by jan

Today, I wanted to have a relaxed Saturday. I originally wanted to write a review of Rollin Etta, a burger truck at Good Food here. If you didn’t know, Portland has an abundance of food carts.

Since Patrick and I had a Groupon for two, we left home to get some burgers and truffle fries around 2:20. We ordered our food and waited in the sun just hanging out, enjoying the warmth. After we got our food, we sat down again to eat when poor Patrick started shivering in his thin sweater. Despite the fact that the sun was blazing down on us, it didn’t take away from the windchill that was also going on.

We decided to just head back home and gorge on the burgers there. The food smelled so good that I would’ve snuck in a bite or two in the car had I not been the one driving.

Once we got back around 2:40 I realized that I might or might not have scheduled a class at Barre3 at 3:00. I wasn’t sure if I did but was praying and hoping that I didn’t because if I were to have not gone to class, I would’ve been charged $15 per their cancellation policy* (which is pretty smart actually).

I ran upstairs to the computer, flipped open my laptop and went to my Barre3 scheduling page.

There it was:

Shoot. Just as I was about to have a delicious smelling burger too!

At lightening speed, I changed into my workout clothes and rushed over to the studio which was a very short walk away and made it ten minutes early to class.

Whew. Then I proceeded to have the work out of my life. This class today was my fourth class and the hardest one thus far. Pretty impressive. It really kicked my ass.

Afterwards, I felt so great. I didn’t feel so bad about ditching the burgers and the fries I knew I wouldn’t want to eat because they’d be cold and gross by then.

Had there not been a cancellation fee, I would’ve totally ditched out on the class. But because there was, I was forced to go. This was good.

Because I never regret a good workout.

But you bet your butt I’m never scheduling classes that far in advance anymore! Since the studio is only a 30 second walk from me, I’m always going to just try scheduling at the last minute. I cut it way too close today. With my sporadic silly luck, I would have just eaten a burger before remembering that I had to go to my class. Now that would’ve been a disaster. ;-)

Do your fitness classes have a cancellation policy? If so, has it worked mostly in your favor or against?

*Barre3′s cancellation policy is that you can do an early cancellation up until an hour before the class starts. Afterwards, if you cancel or not show, you will be charged a $15 cancellation fee. I think it’s to keep the class sizes from overcrowding so if someone signs up for a slot in the class, they want to make sure that person actually goes and doesn’t have the slot go to waste.

Related posts:

See You Soon, Healthy Body!
My Top Five Convenient Post-Workout Snacks
Quick Pho Review: Pho DaLat

My Top Five Convenient Post-Workout Snacks

by jan

I get pretty unhappy when I go straight from working out to running time-sensitive errands without eating first. Fortunately, I’ve become a lot more prepared so I am back to my jolly self. :-D

Whenever I work out, I find myself pretty famished by the time I’m done. With the way my schedule is, it’s important to have snacks on hand after I workout or else I end up hungry, irritable and pretty much the devil.

I decided to compile a list of my top five convenient post-workout snacks that aren’t too tough on the wallet (or the body):

  • Oatmeal – This is what I have for breakfast everyday and I love it enough to have it again as a snack whenever I want. I usually add a splash of almond milk. It takes about ten minutes to prepare (including cooling time so I don’t burn my mouth) so it’s not exactly “instant” but ten minutes is goes by pretty quickly.
  • Almonds – I love almonds. It is a great snack for when I want to curb my appetite so I don’t totally lose it before dinner.
  • Apples with almond butter – This is great for a hint of sweet but tons of protein.
  • Baby carrots with hummus – Very nice because it’s cool and filling with a kick (I like to add lots of jalapeno it mine).
  • Brown rice and meat – Brown rice is a staple in our home. I like to keep brown rice cooked so I can easily reheat it. I usually like to pair it with whatever meat I have in the fridge so I can also get my protein on. I try to keep the portion small in order to keep it at “snack” status.

Honorable mention goes to any type of fruit that isn’t too high in sugar (like the banana). :-)

What kind of post-workout snack do you enjoy?

Related posts:

The Power of Charging a Cancellation Fee at Barre3
Quick Pho Review: Pho DaLat
Barre3: Week 1 Update

Yeah, I Like Natural.

by jan

And I did just that. :-)

A few weeks ago, I came across some very interesting photos and video of the power of makeup. Mostly, they are girls who look very normal and common without the makeup but absolutely, flying gorgeous with. I noticed that many of them have circle lenses which make the pupils of the eye look bigger.

I decided to have my own fun and get my own circle lenses to see how big eye own eyes can look.

Pretty big. It doesn’t look totally unnatural though. I am also trying to grow my eyebrows out so they are a little thicker.

For comparison, this is how I normally look without circle lenses or much makeup on.

I personally like the natural look more but wearing makeup and doing all the girly stuff can be pretty fun. :-)

In general do you prefer the natural look or the more fixed-up, glam look?

 


And the Valentine’s Day Delirium Begins

by jan

Image via Whole Trade Love Note (Whole Foods)

Happy Groundhog Day!

I just love kitschy Valentine’s Day stuff. I’m also a fan of instant gratification. :-p So when I came across these sweet, free Valentine’s Day electronic video love notes courtesy of Whole Foods, I jumped on it and sent Patrick, my fiancé, one.  I am sure this will make him smile. :-)

To send your own free Whole Trade Love Note, go here.


See You Soon, Healthy Body!

by jan

Image via Barre3

I took my very first Barre3 class yesterday yesterday and wow was it a great workout. I can’t wait to go back because I think might already be hooked. It was a great effective class that wasn’t so overly complicated and unforgiving to my body like many of the fitness classes I’ve taken in the past. It really was mix of ballet moves with yoga and pilates.

I felt very grounded and calm as we stretched, worked on our core, our thighs and our legs. I felt my triceps working the hardest they’ve worked in ages as we did push-ups against the bar. And glutes? If I keep this up, my glutes are going to be hard as steel.

I originally had never even considered taking barre exercise classes before because the monthly cost of barre classes are at least $100. At the studio closest to me it’s $165 a month (with a three month commitment). I jumped on their New Client Special: 1 Month Unlimited Classes for $99. I figure that since I don’t pay much in health insurance, I would invest in these classes to contribute to my general health.

So far I’m in love.  I will report back on more of my experience at Barre3 after a week.

Related posts:

My Top Five Convenient Post-Workout Snacks
The Power of Charging a Cancellation Fee at Barre3
Quick Pho Review: Pho DaLat

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