Friday Favorites - Gyms in Chicago

As I'm wrapping up to leave Chicago for INSEAD, I'm reflecting on all of the wonderful experiences that I've had here. Because of this blog, so many of these experiences have revolved around being active and there is such a great health and fitness scene in Chicago, I'm going to miss it! A lot of times, please ask me where my favorite places to workout in Chicago are, so here's a list! There are way more gyms in Chicago than I could ever hope to visit so these are just a few that stand out to me.

River North CrossFit was my original box in Chicago when I first moved here. I spent many early mornings there and hot afternoons on the track training. The community is like no other!

CrossTown Fitness was a new addition to my fitness routine after I attended Sweatworking there with aSweatlife.com. Every class is different and has a combo of cardio and strength. Plus, they do stand up paddle boarding on the lake on Saturdays.

Not exactly a gym, but my friend Kate Hiipakka has been central to the Chicago fitness community since I got here and she introduced me to both NTC Chicago and Shred415. Check out her blog at The Four Percent.

And finally, the best running group ever, Crew Runs the World! They got me through my second Chicago Marathon and my half marathon PR earlier this year. We have very fond memories of battling polar vortexes, snowy sidewalks, and icy winds along the lakefront (I will not miss those things about Chicago).


Thanks to everyone in Chicago who has motivated me and pushed me to be healthy and fit!

Friday Favorites - Smoothie Ingredients

These are the things I put in my morning smoothie, not necessarily all at once. Just add a frozen banana and water or almond milk.

Athletic Greens is my ultimate nutritional insurance. It contains the optimum combination of nutrients derived directly from vegetables and other super foods. A mild taste, easy to blend (even with water), and they even have travel packs.

Vega One is the original healthy plant-based shake that has everything you need to make your day nutritious. The flavors are excellent and you can get creative, like making the pumpkin smoothie above. Protein-rich and a filling breakfast.

I love green tea, more than coffee, and this Organic Matcha powder makes the perfect addition to my smoothie as a caffeine and antioxidant boost. Also, congrats to Agnes of Aggie Runs for winning this giveaway!

Finally, spirulina is the ultimate superfood. It is literally the most nutritious, whole food that we know of and contains a much higher concentration of nutrients than any vegetable. I always add a scoop or two of the powder into my smoothie, which also gives it this wonderful green color. 

What's in your morning smoothie?

Friday Favorites - Vegan Cookbooks

A reader asked me what my favorite vegan cookbooks are, so I made a list! 

Click on the images to buy on Amazon.

Brendan Brazier make plant-based eating popular for athletes and "normal" people alike, food is fuel.

Peggy K cooks like Brendan Brazier but will a feminine twist…aka, more desserts.

Amber's raw recipes are straightforward and her desserts are amazing.

All of the classic recipes turned vegan, great for starters.

Not exactly a cookbook, but still contains great recipes for treating food as fuel.

What are your favorite plant-based cookbooks?

Friday Favorites - America

Happy Independence Day! Since I'm moving abroad, I thought I would share some of my favorite American things that I'll miss over the next year. 

Watching the World Cup in Solider Field.

Sunsets in Florida

The Chicago skyline

Baseball games

The Super Bowl

Halloween

What are your favorite things about America?

Friday Favorites from Los Angeles

After my trip to Reno last week, I headed straight for another conference at UCLA for the Forte Foundation, from which I received a fellowship to attend INSEAD. As you can see, the campus is gorgeous (why did I do undergrad in the midwest?) and I even got to go to the beach on Sunday.

What were your favorites this week?

Friday Favorites from Reno and Lake Tahoe

If you've never seen the sunset from South Lake Tahoe, book your flight right now. Seriously.

What were your favorites this week?

Don't forget to enter my Pure Via stevia GIVEAWAY!

Friday Favorites

The Color Run in Chicago

Stand-up paddle boarding on Lake Michigan

WOD at Cheetah CrossFit

Walking around Lincoln Park Zoo

Denim day for kickball

What were your favorites this week?

Friday Favorites from St. Louis and CrossFit Nucleus

Happy Friday! Last weekend, Grace and I drove down to St. Louis to celebrate our friend Jill getting married. With lots of food and drinks at the wedding shower and bachelorette party, we of course wanted to start the weekend off healthy. When searching for crossfit boxes in the area, I found one called CrossFit Nucleus and it was just down the street from our hotel in Belleville, IL! I'm a nuclear engineer so of course we had to check this box out. The head trainer, Mike, was kind enough to let us WOD with them on Saturday morning, and we had a great (hot and sweaty) time. It is way warmer and more humid down south! The workout included med ball runs, push-ups, V-ups, broad jumps, and KB swings. The atmosphere was great and everyone was welcoming. If you're ever in the St. Louis area, be sure to head across the river from downtown and check out CrossFit Nucleus!

Coming into STL!

Grace and I pre-WOD.

What a great outdoor area!

The crew after working out.

Purdue friends at Jill's wedding shower.

Checking out the Cardinals game from Ballpark Village.

Bachelorette Party!!

Selfie with Jill after a long night of bachelorette fun.

What were your favorites this week?

What's your favorite bachelorette/bachelor party destination?