and then there was CKO Kickboxing

As old school Diddy blasts through the speakers and sweat drips off of my face and into my eyes I keep reminding myself to just dance.  The minute I look at the most intense hour of my day as a dance class, is the minute I put mind over matter.  Just dance.  Otherwise, I'd never survive.  Then again, giving up isn't an option.  It's not that kind of workout.  I'm introducing you to CKO Kickboxing.  If you think you've taken kickboxing classes before (so did I), you haven't. Spending my summer in NJ threw an elbow into my fitness routine.  First, I joined a personal training gym, which has been a huge success.  But then, I found CKO.  This, my friends, is no joke.  I love a good challenge, but love learning new fitness techniques even more.  After hearing about CKO through friends who lived in Hoboken and Staten Island for months, I couldn't wait to try it.  Living in the city, it wasn't an option.  Can you believe there isn't a CKO in NYC?

My kickboxing partner – my dad, 55 years old and in the best shape, and I face the bag two to three times a week.  Between hooks, upper cuts and round houses we're challenged to burpees, squat jumps and planks.  It is a full body workout.  The instructors all have the same attitude – "You're here for a reason, suck it up." Motivating the entire time,  stopping to catch your breath would be an embarrassment.

My studio CKO Kickboxing is in Fanwood, NJ.  Come, join me for a class.  I dare you!

Fitness Confession: I'm A P90X Drop Out and I Think You'll Understand Why

I don't know what happened.  I only lasted three weeks!  Three intense weeks of moving my ottoman from my living room into the hallway of my tiny studio apartment to create enough space for about four tight banana rolls (these redic ab exercises where you lay on the floor and roll in the shape of a banana, yea, those) to kick my own butt in P90X.  It wasn't that it wasn't working, because in those three dedicated weeks I already saw resultes.  So what was my problem?  I became a hermit!

Guys, as you're aware, I work from my studio apartment where I live with my boyfriend and then I also made it my gym.  Live, work, eat, sleep, breath, gym!  I literally never had to leave!  I began talking to Tony Horton more often than I should have...

Therefore, I began incorporating P90X workouts into my lifestyle.  I love going to the gym and working out around motivating people.  I love taking fitness classes from SoulCycle to Cardio Pump and Yoga.  Origionally I said P90X isn't for everyone as it's intense and you need to be dedicated.  I was able to dedicate myself to the series of workouts daily and keep up with the intensity, but the program wasn't for me.  I'm a people person.  I thrive off of life and being around others.  Now, I go about my daily routine and enjoy my gym and classes and do a P90X video here and there on a day I don't feel like going to the gym.  It's a supplement to my regular workouts, not my sole workout.

I still encourage any of you who may be looking to switch up your regimen to invest in the program, but my experience is just something to think about.  It definitely proved results quickly, but if you're anything like me, you may go stir crazy!

Sundress Season Calls for An Updated Workout Playlist

It hit me today.  It's almost sundress season!  March has crept up on me quicker than expected and with temperatures teasing at 60 degrees in NYC, I'm already flirting with Spring fashions.  So when I woke up this weekend to warm weather, the sun shining through my window and the date March 11th starring back at me on my iPhone I knew it was time... to hit the gym with all I've got.

Unlike most, the get in shape for the New Year thing doesn't work for me.  It takes ridding clothes to get me to really move.  The other thing that really helps is a killer playlist.  According to a Men's Health study, music helps you to block out any (good) pain in an exercise and by listening to music you love, you're  distracting yourself into pushing to your max without feeling tired.

I particually love running or doing any kind of cardio to house music.  I just think of dancing in the Hamptons all summer, which is definitely a distraction.  Then, I like toning and lifting to hip hop.  It feels more bad ass when I'm lifting weights.

Here's a sample of my club playlist:

We Found Love, Rihanna

Alright, Red Carpet

The Calling, Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso

You Take Me Higher, Rogerseventytwo

Cry, Bingo Players

So Much Love, Fedde Le Grande

Every Teardrop is A Waterfall, Swedish House Mafia Remix

Raining, Kaskade

Release Me, Agnes & LMFAO

Where You Wanna Go, Mischa Daniels

Opera, Matts Mantra

I'm In Love, Alex Gaudino

Changes, Chris Lake

No More Tears, Lora

Fade Into Darkness, Avicii

Free Fallin', Zoe Badwi

I Will Be Here, DJ Tiesto

No Turning Back, Gui Boratto

I'm Not Alone, Calvin Harris

Eyes, Kaskade

(Note: There's a thousand mixes out there of these songs.  So find the one that suits you!)