Tag Archives: uplift studios

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

And all of a sudden, tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

I have to admit, this year I’ve felt a bit like Amanda. I started out the season SO EXCITED for Christmas time, and all of a sudden it’s almost Christmas and I’m just more relieved to slow down than anything. This month has been a whirlwhind of busy days at work (hi, working for a fitness company just before January. Yup.), holiday parties and other obligations. I felt like I was just going through the motions and trying to get through the season with some sanity intact.

I didn’t decorate my apartment. I didn’t send out cards (but I bought some really cute ones on Etsy…) I didn’t get to go home and do Christmas-y things with my family. But I’m so excited to go home and have a few days quality time with them at the most wonderful time of the year.

It FINALLY felt like Christmas time, and I finally felt genuinely excited on Friday night.

American Ballet Theatre - Nutcracker

Some of my friends, including my friend Jen, are members of the American Ballet Theater, and they were having a performance of the Nutcracker at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  I usually go with my parents to Lincoln Center, but my dad couldn’t go this year because of some health issues, so I wasn’t going to cheat on them at Lincoln Center.

It was fun, and I’m glad I went, but Lincoln Center > BAM and NYC Ballet > ABT.

Saturday, I did 95% of my Christmas shopping and errands for my COOKIE SWAP!

Yesterday morning, I took advantage of the mild, mild weather and did a little sightseeing run.

Giant Ornaments - 1251 6th Ave NYC

 

Somehow this is the fourth year I’ve done this cookie swap! This year, I invited wayyyy too many people, and I couldn’t hold that many people in my apartment, so Leanne at Uplift was kind enough to let me hold my cookie swap there. (Yes, we drank wine and ate cookies at a gym. Is that not normal?)

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Uplift is like my second home, so it didn’t feel that weird.

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I’m pretty sure Lacey has helped me set up every single year. I’m pretty sure Lacey wins friend of the year award.

 

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And Steph wins Prettiest Cookie of the Year award.

 

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Former Coworker Abby wins points for the prettiest store-bought cookies.

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Leah wins for just being the cutest. I don’t know if you can tell in this pic, but her sweater has furry sleeves. NBD.

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Jen wins for co-president of the Small Eyes Club.

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Katie and Meghan win for looking like they are chair models.

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Emily hands-down, without a doubt, wins for best-dressed with her cute, cute, cute Vineyard Vines skirt.

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Former Coworker Abby wins for brightest pants.

 

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Laura wins for best coordinated with the hostess.

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And my super-cute and sweet little coworker Alex wins Saint of the Year for having to deal with me before my coffee. Caitlin wins at life for the Best Single-Girl Card ever.

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We had the entire space, but everyone ended up congregating by the bar. Shocker.

Oh, except for when Gia, Kscott and I decided to do a little photo shoot.

Leanne, please let me come back? 🙂 Also, pro tip: do not pick up a heavier kettlebell than you’ve ever picked up before (30 pounds) after several glasses of bubbly. All ended well, but…there was definite potential for it not to.

Where’s the most random place you’ve ever held a party? What makes it feel like the holidays to you?

On a Serious Endorphin High

YOU GUYS. My runs have been more fun the past week or so, but tonight’s run was freaking amazing.

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I didn’t make my run with Jen and Fiona this morning, so I set out for take two this evening.

In the past month or so, hot or not, almost every single one of my runs has been a total slogfest. My legs are heavy and running hasn’t been as fun as it used to be.

But tonight, MY LEGS DID NOT FEEL HEAVY, I had a rocking playlist and a grin on my face for all six miles. It’s funny–the entire time, I was planning on running NYCM, but making that my goal race has totally revitalized my training.

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Afterwards, I went to Uplift for one of their workout + wine events. It was supposed to be outdoors, but it was moved indoors due to inclement weather. It’s worth noting that it started raining while I was running, so hence the foggy pictures. I had stuffed my phone into my sports bra to give it some protection from the rain. (Thanks to Helena, one of the cofounders, for serving as photog!)

The original event was supposed to be three different classes around the city and meeting back up at the studio for the wine, but when it was moved inside, we did three circuits. This one, above, with Chelsea, was a weights circuit.

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The next one, led by Leanne (one of the cofounders, who is super sweet) involved lots of cardio: stair running (with weights) and burpees and star jumps. It should also be noted that I really need to do laundry. I feel really weird wearing a shirt with my name on it when I’m not running a race…and those loose shorts were not very appropriate for a class.

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The final circuit, led by Kat, was all abs. Ow. Each circuit was about 10 minutes, and we repeated the whole thing once more.

Since my knee pain kicked in, I’ve been doing this Runner’s Bootcamp for strength, but I really need to get back to Uplift or some other sort of strength training. During my partnership with Uplift this spring, I felt like I toned up and got stronger, but I feel like I’ve lost that in the past two months or so since switching back to mostly cardio. Strength is so important in maintaining bone density for women, and obviously for keeping a strong core and avoiding injuries for runners…but it’s less fun. I need to start sitting down with my running schedule and life schedule every week and scheduling some classes. (P.S. In a sort of reverse disclosure here, I paid for my own class.)

As per the name, the night ended with wine. Obviously I am partial because I love my liquid grapes, but I really do love how Uplift fuses the social with the workout. It makes it such a fun place to be.

After two back-to-back workouts, I will now collapse for my next trick.

Runners: are you good with strength or do you slack like I do? (Do not do I what do at home.)(Yoga doesn’t really count as strength, huh?)

What workout(s) do you get a serious endorphin high from?

Also! Blakely! (Not to be confused with Blakie.) You have won a pair of compression socks! Please email me at theodora at losingweightinthecity dot com.

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You have also won my undying appreciation of the wonder of the post long-run nap. I don’t always get to nap after a long run, but oh man, it’s amazing.