Fitness Friday: Working Out in Portland, PlantFit Training Studio, and Skogg Gym

Traveling has the power to mess up a workout routine like no other. I walk into an airport and all I seem to want to do is eat. I sit on an airplane and all I seem to want to do it eat. Then, I land in a new city with new restaurants and . . . all I seem to want to do it eat! The goal when I travel is the maintain my weight. I even go far as to bring my scale. While I realize it is vacation and I can be a little lenient with my diet, I can negate a weeks worth of workouts and disciplined eating in about 2-3 days on vacation. There is nothing worse than getting home, realizing how much weight you have gained, and having to work it all off again. What I have learned in losing over 50 pounds is that you cannot maintain that kind of weight loss unless you force yourself to be accountable every day.

Yes, I fall off the wagon occasionally, but I dust myself off and get back on again. My goal while I was in Portland for four days was two workouts. All I needed was two workouts. I flew in Thursday morning. Thursday is not a regular workout day for me. Over the course of the day, I walked about 10 miles exploring the city. Get off the bus and subway! There is no better way to see a city than on foot.

I had planned ahead and brought along my laptop, Insanity DVDs, and YogiToes mat. I was at the end of week 4 of Insanity. Knowing I was in a new city, I knew I needed to get outside and find new places to workout. I showed up ready to do Insanity just in case . . .

Thankfully, on Friday there was a 7 AM workout organized for attendees of Vida Vegan Con at a vegan gym in Portland called PlantFit. Ugh. 7 AM! Since I work at night, I don’t think I have ever gotten up before 10 AM to workout. I was determined to meet other vegans in the conference and get my workout done! I woke up at 6 AM, met others in the hotel lobby, walked 1 mile to PlantFit Training Studio, and did about an hour of high intensity interval training! It was a lot of fun. I am really glad I went. If you are in an around Portland, I highly recommend PlantFit.

Post PlantFit workout, I headed uptown to the Skogg Gym. After losing 20 pounds doing The Skogg System, I knew Michael Skogg and his gym were based Portland; I was super excited to try a live class. I signed myself up for the 7 AM class on Saturday. What is with the 7 AM workouts?!

Saturday morning, I showed up at the Skogg Gym to workout. I worked harder in 40 minutes of kettlebell interval training than I did in an hour of high intensity interval training. I’ve made it no secret that I LOVE kettlebells. They challenge me, my cardio capacity, and my strength. At up to 1200 calories and hour, it is hard to find a more efficient and enjoyable workout.

Two days after Portland despite all the “junk vegan food,” I weighed exactly what I weighed when I left. Mission accomplished!! *happy dance goes here*