When in LA, do as the Angelenos do

One of the best things about living in LA is how easy it is to convince people to visit. When I moved here, friends were lining up to get a spot on my calendar, eager to leave the cold and enjoy our never-ending sunshine! After hosting a variety of visitors, I’ve put together my top five things to do with fitness enthusiast friends.

1. Go for a hike. This one might go without saying since it’s so rare to have an ugly day in LA; spend time outside! My two favorite hikes are Runyon Canyon (great for people watching and not too long) and the Hollywood sign hike (about six miles but you get amazing views of the city and, of course, the sign!).

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2. Grab yogurt at Go Greek. If you follow me on Insta you can probably tell that I am OBSESSED with this place. They offer authentic Greek yogurt and frozen Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruits and sweet honey. The yogurt is packed with protein and probiotics so you don’t feel too guilty afterwards! This is also a Kardashian favorite so your guests are likely to do some celeb spotting, too.

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3. Check out an LA exclusive workout. We are #blessed with so many great places to sweat in this city and your guests are bound to love them. Some of my favorites that you can’t find elsewhere are Speedplay LA, Rise Nation, Cycle House, Sandbox Fitness, and Lagree Fitness Studio. Many even have a “first class free” option!

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4. DIY photoshoot. LA is also known for its colorful walls that make gorgeous backgrounds for pictures. My favorites are the pink wall on Melrose and the LOVE wall in Culver City. You can find a list of some of the popular options here. It’s a great way to tour the city while filling your feed with likeable images.

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5. Eat healthy. Most people think vacations are a time to binge eat fried food (I’m not going to completely disagree), but in LA there’s no reason to go crazy on snacks that will make you feel sluggish because we have so many delicious healthy options. I recommend trying local juice places and acai bowls. My favorites are LA Juice, Kreation, Nekter and Backyard Bowls (pictured below). If you’re in the mood for savory restaurant options, check out Gracias Madre and Café Gratitude—both vegan and super trendy.

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Whether you take my advice or not, your guests are bound to have an incredible trip to the City of Angels!

Have any must-sees that I missed? Share the wealth and comment below!

In-Home Massage with Zeel (or 75 min of pure bliss)

It’s official; I found the ideal Sunday night set up. After a weekend full of aerial, hot yoga, and hiking, my body was in need of some major R&R. Enter: Zeel.

IMG_4075Just like Uber for rides, Fitspot for personal training, and GlamSquad for blowouts, Zeel brings a massage therapist right to your doorstep. Whether you’re at home, staying the night in a hotel, or need a break from your desk job, Zeel is at your service.

Simply open the app and request an appointment. From a relaxing Swedish massage, to a targeted deep tissue massage, or a sports massage perfect for sore muscles, you can choose to unwind solo or as a couple.

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The app also allows you to clarify if you prefer a male or female masseuse and offers three durations: 60, 75, and 90 minutes.

Once you’ve provided your info, time frame availability, and payment, you simply press book! An 18% tip is already included in the price so there’s no need to stress about cash or do any mental math in your state of bliss.

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A few minutes after booking I was sent a confirmation text with my time and therapist details and then confirmed via the app. In order to be approved for your first appointment, you must verify either the last four digits of your SSN or take a pic of your ID to prove you’re legit and help ensure the safety of the therapist.

My massage was set for 8:00 pm so I lit some candles, poured myself a glass of wine, and started winding down. When my therapist, Marisol, arrived I had two sheets and pillowcase ready. If you don’t have sheets, let them know ahead of time and they will provide for a small fee.

After setting up the table, she headed into my bathroom while I got undressed and under the sheet. She turned off the lights and played some soft, soothing music through her speaker as I spent 75 minutes experiencing pure relaxation. Marisol was so kind and professional and I soon forgot that I was in my own living room and not a five-star spa.

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Once time ended, Marisol excused herself so I could get dressed. She then quickly packed up the equipment and said goodbye (ok, fine, after we sat on the couch and I showed her my wedding album…but I’m a weirdo). Instead of heading out into traffic and finding my way home, the only movement I had to do was refill my glass and get cozy on the couch. It was absolutely MAGICAL!

Zeel Massage On Demand is available in Boston, Chicago, the SF Bay Area, Southern California, South Florida, and the NYC Tri-State Area – with additional locations coming soon.

Use the Code SweatRepeat for $25 off your first massage!

There are also a few upcoming specials to take advantage of:

Valentine’s Day–$30 off a couples massage pre-booked between 2/1 and 2/11 and taken during Valentine’s Day Weekend (Friday, 2/12 through Monday, 2/15). Use code VDAY2016. If you book between those days you will be automatically entered to win a free couples massage. 10 winners will be picked!

Single? That’s ok too! Saturday 2/13 through Monday, 2/15: $15 off for existing customers with code PDW2016. (New customers use code SweatRepeat for $25 off anytime!)

Cycle Strength at Cry Baby House

At a Glance:

Website: http://www.crybabyhouse.com/
Address: 2112 Zeno Place,
Venice, CA 
90291
Price: one class/ $30, 10 classes/ $250, introductory month unlimited/ $125
Length: 75 minutes (55 minute and 90 minute options also available)
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high

*Please have your own road bike to participate. Otherwise, contact the studio prior to experiencing this class*

Over the past several months, my life has been more and more focused on running with Nike Run Club. My times have progressively gotten better along with my health and overall happiness. While others have encouraged marathon training, my mom keeps reminding me, “You can swim, you can run, you just need to bike better. Why not try a triathlon?”

I’m always on the hunt for crazy fitness adventures. When I heard about Cry Baby House, a triathlon and endurance-training center, the wheels of my brain started turning! Nestled in the heart of Venice, CBH hosts road bike classes that can’t hold a candle to spinning. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.

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Cycle House Express Ride

At a Glance:

Website: http://www.cyclehousela.com
Address: 8511 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Length: 30 minutes
Price: first class $18, 1 class/$29, 10 classes/$260, month unlimited/$329 w no commitment
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high

It took me a while to jump on the band wagon and give Cycle House a shot, but ever since I did (and it’s been a year now), I’ve become an addict. I frequent Aaron’s 5:30 class because his energy is almost as crazy as how absolutely friendly and approachable he is. Since the new year has started, I’ve noticed these classes selling out on ClassPass which is why I decided to check out the brand new 30 minute express ride. “No weights. No breaks.”

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Start the Year with Sweat & Repeat

Every new year brings new goals and increased motivation to reach those goals. January 1st can be a much-needed kick in the butt especially after a month of indulging (yes, I did eat about a pound of cheese fondue on New Years Eve, oops).

Two of the most common and arguably most important goals are to eat healthy and exercise more often and I am so excited to be hosting two events this week that can help jump start your resolutions for 2016! See below for details, and I hope to see you there! Did I mention they’re both FREE!

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TreatMe, the ClassPass of Beauty

In a world of ClassPass and Uber and Postmates and Fitspot (the list goes on), it’s no wonder some brilliant human came up with TreatMe. I was introduced to it through a Facebook group that I belong to that includes approximately 18,000 women in the Los Angeles area. From reading about break ups to seeing the funniest new memes, there’s always entertainment to be had in this group.

Thankfully, I happened to be scrolling my feed when a girl asked if anyone was interested in unlimited blowouts and manicures. Wait, WHAT? Duh!

TreatMe is a brand new platform that offers unlimited monthly manicures for $49, blowouts for $99, or both for $135.

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photo and makeup by Bethany at Glam Packed

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Another Year Down

This weekend I celebrated my birthday, not to be confused with my blog-anniversary that I celebrated in October. Birthdays are always a time of reflection and mine falls right before the new year, making it the most ideal time to look back at what I have accomplished (or still need to) and figure out what I want for myself in the upcoming year.

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Since being in Los Angeles for about 18 months, a lot has happened. I’ve started this blog as an outlet for my fitness obsession, gotten engaged and married, and made new friends (thankfully so many that share my love for working out).

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To ring in year 27, I decided to throw the sweatiest birthday party I could think of, so naturally, a spin class was my first choice. SoloCicla, the gorgeous new studio in Studio City was the ideal location. Not only is it easy to get to (right off of the 101), but also there’s a plethora of free parking, free shoes, and free alkaline water!

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Burn60 Event with ClassPass Ambassadors

At a Glance:

Website: http://burn60.com
Address: 8969 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Length: 60 minutes
Price: first class $10, 1 class/$28, 10 classes/$260, month unlimited/$199
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: high

I’ve been dying to check out Burn60 since they opened last month so I was thrilled when the ClassPass ambassadors were asked to host an event at the studio! Burn60 is a Brentwood favorite that has expanded to West Hollywood.

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SoloCicla with Lara

At a Glance:

Website: http://solocicla.com
Address: 3341 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Length: 45 minutes
Price: first class free, 1 class/$24, 10 classes/$210, month unlimited/$300
Sweat scale: high
Energy level: medium

This studio opened about a month and a half ago and I’ve wanted to check it out ever since I heard that parking is free and plentiful and they have free shoes to borrow. All of my favorite things J

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