HardCore Pilates: It's Hardcore Alright.

Seriously, I can't even THINK of a better word to describe the class Candice and I took this morning at HardCore Pilates Houston. It was the most challenging workout I've ever done in my life (and it felt amazing!)

Candice and I both got our sessions for HardCore Pilates off of Groupon (if you aren't already signed up on this amazing site- please do! every city has it's own daily deals where you can get things like spa treatments, workout sessions and deals on restaurants etc...all for 60-85% off of regular prices!)

This Pilates class is different because they use actual Pilates machines (the brand they use is the Allegro Pilates Reformer) to do the entire workout. The class is also like having your own personal trainer- Wayne Davis (the owner) and his assistant are always there to help you do the moves correctly, lead the class and answer any questions. The women who took the class were also very helpful and encouraging! Definitely a friendly and un-intimidating place.



The HardCore Pilates workout consists of using the Pilates machine to work out every part of your body. While the focus is on always keeping your core tight, the moves work out your abs, legs, butt and arms. It is truly a full-body workout. The machine has various levels of resistance so the workout will always be a challenge for whoever is doing it. I met a girl in the class who has been going for a year (twice a week) and her body was definitely super toned!

This is one of those workouts that is SO intense, I don't know that you would even have to do it more than twice a week. I can tell that this workout is very results-driven, and completely different than any other Pilates classes I've ever experienced (I do Power Pilates and Ball Pilates on the mat, and although it's a super good workout, HardCore Pilates is on a whole different level.)

My experience taking this class was incredible and if you have a studio like this in your area (that uses the Pilates Reformer machines) I would recommend you try a session...though, I will say that machine Pilates is not necessarily for beginners (I joked to Candice that it was like Pilates bootcamp...without the boots!) This isn't to say that a beginner couldn't do it...but I practice mat Pilates pretty regularly and this class was extremely challenging for me. Yes, I could do it, but the burn was so intense (at one point, I asked the instructor "If yesterday was Good Friday, I'm not sure what to call today!" LOL- I am a dork!)


I told Wayne that I was going to blog about my experience taking his class, and he generously offered new students $5 off of one session (regular cost is $25/session) to any of my readers (in Houston) who call to book a session and mention this blog post. So for my lovely Houston readers- I would definitely take advantage of this offer- it will take ANY workout you're doing now to the next level, and you'll really challenge yourself!

You can click here to check out the Hardcore Pilates website. The studio is located on Kirby & Richmond. You can call (832) 338-8091 to book a session (you must make an appointment to take class.)

Thank you so much for reading :)

PS- I am gonna be SO sore tomorrow!

xoxo,

Veronika.
FTC Disclaimer: I am writing this review based on my own honest experience. I am not being compensated to write this review.

Home Gymin' it & Elle Make Better Workout DVD's Feat. Brooklyn Decker (love!) Review

Last night my personal training session was canceled so I finally decided to pop in one of my Elle Make Better series workout DVD's featuring Brooklyn Decker that I talked about in this post.

First off, let me start by saying my home gym isn't anything fancy. In fact, it's a small section of our guest bedroom, which is never used because we hardly ever have guests stay over.

So far, this is what it looks like:

Yes, that is yet another box from Marshall's. It is a larger version of the smaller one I got a couple of weeks ago. It holds an excersice mat, free weights and resistance bands. I may replace the one in my gym room with the smaller one so I can put the larger one upstairs in an area we use more often. I'm going to think about it.

Here is the inside (minus the mat)

Pretty simple. I'm sure my collection will grow. Here is the room:

That is my actual workout area. There's my pretty blue mat and my stability ball. I just set them out like that for the picture...I typically have them tucked away. Here's another view so you can get a better idea of the space. That door leads to a full guest bath:

There's enough room for me to move around and do all of the moves I need to. It looks pretty small in photos, but the space is actually quite good. Here's a view of my DVD collection. Please note that the TV stand is absolutely horrendous and I plan to replace it:

And...here they are all laid out:

Okay, so back to the topic at hand. Like I said, my trainer canceled, so after doing about 30 minutes of cardio, I decided to pop in Elle's Make Better "Beauty Sculpt" DVD.

I got an intense workout. In fact, I'm not sure if a beginner could even do the workout. I broke into a sweat and was pretty out of breath, and I've got good core strength and work out regularly. I would say these DVD's are for someone at an intermediate level. I also should mention the Beauty Sculpt routine is an interval training format (so weights and balance moves mixed with bursts of strength cardio.)

That's the only DVD I've done so far from the set of 3, but I've previewed them all and they all look great. Another fun feature is that they have little fashion, beauty and travel segments with Brooklyn Decker. Since I could pretty much stare at her perfection all day, those are fun to watch (and you can learn or thing or two from Elle EditorJoe Zee- love him!)

If you are looking for a more intense workout, I recommend this set of DVD's. I will report back when I try the cardio one. Truth be told, I probably won't do the yoga one very often, however, I will try it once just for the purpose of reviewing it.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I am not a huge fan of Yoga. I don't know if it's because I can't relax or whatever...but I prefer the fast pace of pilates. I do like Bikram (hot) Yoga though. I guess I just feel I get a better burn with pilates but I do understand that Yoga has great benefits as well.

One more thing I wanted to add that I liked about the videos was that they feature Brooklyn and a trainer. Brooklyn isn't perfect at all of the moves, which actually made me feel better. You can tell she is working hard, but you can also see she isn't as perfectly coordinated as the trainer is. It makes me feel better to know it doesn't have to be perfect and over time it gets easier. Also, her body is amazing, but she isn't so crazy thin that she wasn't relatable. I actually found her body to be thin but more achieveable than most models (at least the way it looked in these videos.) Brooklyn is curvy. She's got boobs and hips!

Here is my list of home gym improvements I'd like to make:

1. Hardwood floors
2. Flat screen TV on wall
3. Prettier TV stand
4. Large, full-length mirror
5. A Bosu ball
6. Inspiration wall (with pics of celebrity bodies to motivate me- though, Brooklyn Decker's body is motivating enough!)

I think adding those elements over time will make the space more work-out friendly and will encourage me to work out at home more.

Do you have a home gym? Does it motivate you? Let me know in the comments below. Also, if you have some fave workout vids, please share those too!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Haul: Bows, Sparkles and the Gorgeous Jacket I Had to Have

Today, my husband and I went shopping for some new work clothes (for him) because he just got a new job! (yay yay yay times infinity!) I am so happy for him and proud of him.

I also picked up a few items for myself (which I'm sure isn't surprising.)

Let's begin:
This tee from Forever 21 was just irresistible. I know it is a little bit holiday-esque, but you know I can't resist a sparkly bow. The shoulders have a tiny bit of padding in them, and it actually makes the shirt look very flattering when on.

This jacket from White House Black Market had me at hello. I was walking out of the store after trying on a zebra print bikini top (I know, I know)...and I immediately fell in love with this lovely jacket laying on one of the tables. I stared at it longingly, and was too scared to look at the price tag, as some of WHBM's jackets can often cost more than $200. I nearly squeeled when I saw it was $98. Which is still a lot...but but but...I don't own even one "suit" style jacket (well, I own one, from Zara and I hate the way it fits.) This jacket will be a staple and just looks oh-so- good on. I can just picture it with some pearls...oh pearls.

Onto the details:
Ugh. So so good. We just belonged together. I will definitely have to do an OOTD post when I wear this. I got a size small, for reference.
This lovely military-inspired sweater from Forever 21 is another one of my favorite purchases. I saw it on the "return" rack area when I was leaving the fitting room and quickly tried it on. It looks incredible on, and I had to have it. The ruffles at the neck and hips just make it so feminine. It really is an incredible piece and feels well made. It cost $24.50 and I got a medium.

And because a shopping haul is never quite complete without some rosettes I also picked up this lovely rosette adorned top at Forever 21. I want to say it was $15.50 or $17.50. I like to layer these kinds of tees under simple cardigans to give the look a little some extra.

With my sunny vacation on mind, I picked up this pretty cotton dress from Victoria's Secret PINK, on sale for $19.95. It is actually quite long (most of their "dresses" are shirts on me.) I really love the bust detail. It makes the dress feel more special. I plan to wear it as a beach cover-up and with heels it could even look cute to wear to dinner.

Here is the bust, up-close:

I might be a little obsessed with zebra-print...so I also got this VS PINK tee (on sale.) I think it's a cute weekend tee and gym shirt:

It's supposed to fit loose and off-the-shoulder, but I got an XS because I liked how it looked better when it was more fitted. It was on sale for $12.99.

My zebra love continued when I went to Old Navy to pick up 2/$5 flip flops for our trip. I also got a pair of black ones with a slightly metallic finish:

Earlier this week, Chloe posted about these gorgeousValentino Couture Half D'orsay Bow Pumps.

I fell in love with them, but not with the price tag. You can see the ones she got here.

While browsing at DSW today, I stumbled upon these Me Too brand shoes that are somewhat similar to the Valentinos. I had a $20 off coupon so they came to $37.50. They are very very cute! If you are near the Galleria store here in Houston, they still have a lot of them left...mostly in sizes 7-9 and hald sizes, if I remember correctly.

(I forgot to take out the foamy things that keep the bow shape in the shoes.)

Yes, that is a *new* zebra print pillow. My husband thinks I buy too many pillows (and decorative boxes, as I mentioned in a previous post.) I got the pillow at Target last week, and when I came home with it my husband gave me his "I can't believe you bought another couch pillow you crazy woman" face. I promptly added it to the couch, and took two current couch pillows to the guest room (they matched perfectly.) That way, I wasn't adding more...I actually left our couches with less pillows (now that's quick thinkin'!)

Okay, this is totally gross, but because of the cold weather, my knuckles on both hands are cracking and bleeding because they are so dry. I despise hand lotion, so my options are limited. I've been using Eucerin cream at night, but it's not working. So I went to the Body Shop and picked up some of their HEMP hand cream. Hopefully it will make things better:

I am also happy to announce that today, I purchased some dress pants from Express. The reason I'm happy to announce it, is because today I bought a size 4 dress pant. I already have a pair of Editor's in a size 6...because that's all that ever fits me because of my hips. Today, I was able to buy a 4. It just proves that the way your clothes fit will show you the results of you fitness routine...because when I look at myself in the mirror, I am so critical, so I don't always see the changes as much. It was an exciting moment. Maybe it's just that style or something, but I was proud.

PSA: Marshall's Home Store has amazing and inexpensive yoga/pilates mats. I picked up one to take with my to the studio (they provide them, but I prefer to have my own) and I also got a thicker mat to use in my downstairs bedroom which I am going to use as a home gym (to do my workout videos.)

Here are the ones I got:
Did you buy anything this weekend? Let me know in the comments below. Also- have you been working out this year? How do you measure your results? Is it by how your clothes fit, how much you weigh, how you feel? Please do share!

Thank you for reading, and happy Sunday!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Countdown to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

I read the Glamour Magazine Girls in the Beauty Department Blog on the daily, and today they had some backstage pics from the VS fashion show (it's being taped tonight, and will air Dec. 1st).
I know I've said it before, but this is my favorite fashion show of the year. I don't know if they can technically call it a fashion show, but they do, and that is OK with me!

Where do I start? I love the creative accessories, jewels and other costume-ish adornments they add to the lingerie. I love the angel wings and how they change every year to go with the themes in the show. I love the super-toned bodies, full voluminous hair, bronzed skin and shimmery eyes.

Please tell me that there are some of you out there who are as excited as I am every year for this show!?

Also- have you been following the VS model search? Who do you think will win? You can check out their boot camp videos here. It is actually quite amusing. Celeb personal trainer David Kirsch asks each of the girls to strip down to their bikinis prior to their workouts, and then asks them what they think they need to improve upon. One of the girls appeared to be fairly perplexed and I could totally see her saying"I don't really know, my body is pretty perfect," but she somehow managed to keep in her head. You can watch the boot camp videos here.

Yesterday evening, I took a Power Pilates class at Your Body Center and it was incredible and very challenging. I definitely plan to supplement my regular workouts with at least one tough class like that a week.

Tonight, I tried Hot Yoga at the same sutdio, and I will say this- it is extremely difficult. It is also very rewarding and cleansing. It is literally like detox. The room is 105 degrees and you do 90 minutes of yoga during the class. I believe there are 40 positions you go through.

Hot Yoga is the kind of class you just have to try once. I plan to continue to do it once in awhile. It is best described as grueling, but the more you do it, the better (and easier) it gets.

If you work out regularly at a gym, I 100% recommend taking supplemental classes either at your own gym (good) or at a studio that specializes in the type of workout you are after (even better!)

I find that the pilates classes offered at my gym are not as intense as the ones at the studio. They are good, but the ones at the studio focus on doing a full body workout and feature a larger variety of moves, IMO.

I also want to try the pilates classes that use the machines like the reformer and the proformer, but they are very pricey, so those will have to wait.

I hope you all had a great week, and HAPPY FRIDAY!

xoxo,

Veronika.