Summer is here! Let's sweat it out together!

The 2nd round of my OV gym Sweat Check Boot camp style class will begin this wed, July 16th. I recently completed my 1st round of classes and it was a great success! I had nearly 20 eager, hard working people join in hopes to get a great hour long workout. It's amazing how challenging, yet do-able, each exercise is when you just use your own body weight-no equipment or extra weight needed. Hope you'll be able to come and check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed. 

Summer Conditioning Class

“Just Your Body” is an hour-long fitness class that uses no weights, just your body to get fit.  The only equipment needed is your own exercise mat.  The class is suited for any body, age 13 and older who is looking to have fun staying active and fit through the summer. The fitness class is led by certified personal trainer and physical education specialist, Reenie Brooking.  She is a former PE teacher at Columbia Elementary, the owner of “Sweat Check with Reenie”, and has worked with many kids, teen-agers and adults to help them reach their fitness goals within the Mukilteo area.

The class is held at the Olympic View Middle School gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:30-8:30. You can sign up for 1, 2 or 3 day a week packages. Class will be an hour of Power, a true “make me sweat” style of workout. You’ll feel great leaving the gym after an intense, hour-long total body workout that will focus on cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, while always targeting the core and increasing flexibility.

Cost: 

       2^nd summer series: July 16^th-August 29^th

§  1day/week (7 classes): $105

§  2day/week (14 classes): $210

§  3day/week (20 classes): $300

Interested? 

Contact Reenie Brooking at 425 879 4428, or email her at: sweatcheckwithreenie@hotmail.com to get a registration form to sign up! 

Great Class Opportunity for Teens

Attention Teens, anyone 13 and older! I'm starting a fitness class the Monday after school gets out for 3 weeks, then another class starting mid July through end of August. Class will be held in the OV gym and will be great for all fitness levels and ages. Up till now I've only been able to teach a 6am-7am class, which is too early for students but come summer time, I hope to pack this class with teens as well as adults.  

Summer Conditioning Class

“Just Your Body” is an hour-long fitness class that uses no weights, just your body to get fit.  The only equipment needed is your own exercise mat.  The class is suited for any body, age 13 and older who is looking to have fun staying active and fit through the summer. The fitness class is led by certified personal trainer and physical education specialist, Reenie Brooking.  She is a former PE teacher at Columbia Elementary, the owner of “Sweat Check with Reenie”, and has worked with many kids, teen-agers and adults to help them reach their fitness goals within the Mukilteo area.

The class is held at the Olympic View Middle School gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:30-8:30. You can sign up for 1, 2 or 3 day a week packages. Class will be an hour of Power, a true “make me sweat” style of workout. You’ll feel great leaving the gym after an intense, hour-long total body workout that will focus on cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, while always targeting the core and increasing flexibility.

Cost: 1^st summer series: June 16^th-July 2^nd

§  1day/week (3 classes): $45

§  2day/week (6 classes): $90

§  3day/week (8 classes): $120

       2^nd summer series: July 16^th-August 29^th

§  1day/week (7 classes): $105

§  2day/week (14 classes): $210

§  3day/week (20 classes): $300

Interested? 

Contact Reenie Brooking at 425 879 4428, or email her at: sweatcheckwithreenie@hotmail.com to get a registration form to sign up! 

JUST YOUR BODY

  Summer Conditioning Class

“Just Your Body” is an hour-long fitness class that uses no weights, just your body to get fit.  The only equipment needed is your own exercise mat.  The class is suited for any body, age 13 and older who is looking to have fun staying active and fit through the summer. The fitness class is led by certified personal trainer and physical education specialist, Reenie Brooking.  She is a former PE teacher at Columbia Elementary, the owner of “Sweat Check with Reenie”, and has worked with many kids, teen-agers and adults to help them reach their fitness goals within the Mukilteo area.

The class is held at the Olympic View Middle School gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:30-8:30. You can sign up for 1, 2 or 3 day a week packages. Class will be an hour of Power, a true “make me sweat” style of workout. You’ll feel great leaving the gym after an intense, hour-long total body workout that will focus on cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, while always targeting the core and increasing flexibility.

Cost: 1^st summer series: June 16^th-July 2^nd

§  1day/week (3 classes): $45

§  2day/week (6 classes): $90

§  3day/week (8 classes): $120

       2^nd summer series: July 16^th-August 29^th

§  1day/week (7 classes): $105

§  2day/week (14 classes): $210

§  3day/week (20 classes): $300

Interested? Contact Reenie Brooking at 

425 879 4428 or her email at: sweatcheckwithreenie@hotmail.com

Pat on the back

Tonight we give ourselves a pat on the back. Back on March 2nd I wrote about how 4 of us completed our first week of "Insanity." Well, the 60 days have come and gone and we did it. We got up early 6 mornings a week and worked out HARD together, every morning for 60 days. At the beginning of this journey we all had different reasons for committing to this challenge. But we all had the same thought: "this will be more than tough but we can do anything for 60 days" Well guess what? We all aren't stopping now and that is what finding a workout program that works is all about. 3 out of the 4 of us have realized waking up and working out at 5am is the best fit for us so we are continuing to meet 5 days a week together. The other is going to continue exercising, but at a slightly later morning time that works better for her and joining us when she can. But the point is, we all feel so great, have seen some great results so far and want to keep the train going. 

For me, I know in order to get off the remainder of my baby weight I need to workout at a high level, at least 5 days a week. I also know I need to eat clean. Simple science really. Work out consistently and eat well. The past 2 months I never deprived myself, never counted calories or skipped meals. I stuck to what I believe in and what I preach to my own clients. "Eat and workout how you plan to for the rest of your life." 

In the past 60 days I have gained muscle, lost 10 pounds, lost a total of 6 inches from my body and greatly increased my muscles endurance and strength along with my cardiovascular efficiency. 

But here is how I look at it: Great start. It took me nearly 2 years since Parker was born, she'll be 2 in June, for me to get the ball rolling in the right direction. It's finally moving and it's going in the right direction but there's no stopping me now, I have much more to achieve. 

I'm proud of myself but I'm most proud of us: the 3 girlfriends who I've had the privilege of go along this journey with. We've inspired and supported each other, complained about lack of sleep to each other but most importantly sweated our tails off together and got fit together. We most definitely passed the sweat check every morning we met. 

For tonight, we get out of our workout clothes, put some make up on, wear something cute and celebrate over and a few drinks and laughs. I'm so proud of you girls!

What's for Dinner?

Spaghetti with Wilted Greens and 

Walnut-Parsley Pesto

YUM! I've made this many times before so I thought it was time to share after filling my belly with this goodness tonight. I love what this meal has-a great mix of whole grains and protein. You also know what that makes for? An excellent post-workout fuel! Added bonus about this dish is that you get plenty of antioxidants from the veggies, the herbs and the walnuts. BONUS, as I like to call it, this meal only takes about 5, well-10 minutes to make the pesto and enough time to boil the noodles. So an easy, nutritious dinner for you and your family.

Here are the goods: 

-1 pound or box of whole wheat spaghetti or I used 1/2 brown rice noodles and 1/2 whole wheat because that is what I had

-1 pound swiss chard, chopped

-1 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley

-1/2 cup packed fresh baby spinach

-1/4 cup walnuts

-1 small (or I like big because I like garlic) peeled and chopped garlic

-2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil

-1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (this is key! I love the freshness of the lemon)

-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

6 large eggs 

1. So you bring a pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta and after 5 minutes of cooking add the chopped chard and return cooking. Drain pasta and chard when done and return to pot.

2. While pasta is cooking, combine parsley, spinach, walnuts, garlic, 2 tablespoons oil, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon water, and salt and pepper into food processor, pulse until chunky.

3. Fry up your eggs w/ the remaining olive oil-make them over easy

4. Add pesto to noodles, might need to add a little water or olive oil to your desired consistency and for it all to mix together. 

5. Top bowls of green goodness with a fried over easy egg. 

*I made the whole recipe tonight, serves 6 but after Kadin, myself and the kids had some the leftovers makes for an easy lunch for tomorrow. 

GREAT meal. Hope you enjoy. 

Green Magic

Green smoothies aren't just for celebrating St. Patty's day! We have green smoothies almost every day. We love them! Not only are they yummy and satisfying but they are very nutritious. 

Here's our little Parker Lou excited for the blender to be turned on. When her big brother presses the start button she squeals and gets so excited! 

All done! Enough for her, mommy and daddy to have a glass. Price loves to make them but still won't drink them:) Picky eater stage....oh well, one day! 

This morning's smoothie was dedicated to the desire for a sunny morning! Seems like most mornings these days start with clouds and rain but this smoothie makes me think I'm on the beach in Mexico. It's our Tropical Smoothie:

-About 2-21/2 cups of Almond milk (or any milk)

-handful of unsweetened coconut flakes

-1 banana

-handful of frozen mango

-handful of frozen pineapple

-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed (good way to get a little omega 3 fatty acids into your diet)

-2 handfuls of Spinach 

And there you go! I just use a standard Kitchenaide blender-we don't really mind the little bits of coconut but if you want your smoothie truly smoothie you might need to invest in a fancy machine:) 

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Strength in Numbers

I just finished my first week of Insanity, a workout program that is 60 days long, 6 days a week and is just basically insane. So I guess that is why it's called Insanity. Since August I've really been trying to exercise close to every day, early in the morning before my day starts being a mom. But this program is different. It's really challenging for me and it reminds me of how I feel after a good, hard run. After these workouts you feel the exercise "high" for sure and it's really pretty awesome. But here is the key. I could not do this program, for 60 days, if it wasn't for my workout support group: my fellow Insanity exercisers. 4 of us have dedicated our 5-6 am time slot, 5 mornings a week, to meet together to do this workout. This week we even decided to meet on Saturday together at 5:30-that was pretty impressive:)

If I didn't have these other ladies showing up, pushing themselves (therefore pushing me) I would not workout as hard as I do. The key component in this program, and any other workout program one chooses is truly Strength in numbers. 

I think that is one of the main reasons my class draws the interest it does. It's a small group of 8 ladies who come together, to share in this family of exercise, 3 mornings a week. They sweat together, talk together, whine together, share together. It's pretty amazing. 

I'm thankful for my fellow workout partners and I'm thankful for my workout clients who I know appreciate the strength in numbers and all that it entails.