So, you may remember me mentioning some blog “changes.” Well, don’t fret, it’s nothing major. I’ve decided to change the “format” of my blogging for a number of reasons:
- Evening workouts don’t “agree” with me
- Blogging during lunch has been working well
- My photos of oatmeal are getting boring
- I have had great success with morning workouts in the past
- Healthworks hooked me up with a free month pass!
With all of these factors converging at once, it makes sense for me to change how and when I blog. With my fancy-schmancy one-month membership to Healthworks and my goal to exercise consistently in the mornings once again, I have decided to combine my breakfast and lunch posts into one, instead of posting 2 separate posts for each meal. However, my morning post is my favorite post of the day (I’m not sure why… it just is!), so I might have a way to fit in both my morning workout at Healthworks and blog about breakfast. We’ll see if I can finagle it! 
So, no major changes in the blog– just a little something to keep you on your toes!
Workout + Breakfast
So, let me explain my one-month pass to Healthworks. As you know, I contribute twice per month to the Healthworks blog, Boston’s Women’s Wellness. As a thank you (I assume), the marketing department kindly gave me a gift certificate for a free one-month membership at any of the Healthworks locations! Obviously, I was psyched! You guys have heard me rave about HW many, many, many times on CNC in the past, but I just need to reiterate that it is still the best all-women’s gym in the area. Healthworks has the best facilities, best classes, best instructors, best staff, best programs and events… they’re just the BEST! 
After my free month, I might just join HW again. I need to look at my finances to see if I can afford the membership! You get what you pay for when it comes to gym memberships! What’s the most you’d pay per month for a membership at a really nice healthclub?
After my workout, I headed to the office, where I ate breakfast at my desk while catching up with emails. Today’s breakfast was a mix of oats, wheatberries, ground flaxseed meal, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and a squirt of agave nectar for some added sweetness. I’m not going to lie, I missed my peanut butter this morning!
With an orange, iced coffee with soy milk from Starbucks, and H20 for rehydration…
Lunch
Hooray! The Cafe Rojo Gato has outdoor seating! It’s the little things in life that make all of the difference, right? Warm weather (and everything that goes along with it) just makes me so happy! 
And, rumor has it that Boston might see close to the 80′s this weekend! That’s summer weather in my book!
Today’s lunch was a repeat from yesterday. I actually made three salads the other night: 1 for dinner and two for lunch this week. It so much easier when you have all of the ingredients ready to be chopped and tossed into a salad than doing it three separate times.
Close-up shots…
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The rest of lunch included peanut butter Puffins mixed with chocolate chips, a very ripe banana, and a Sigg full of water.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Yumilicious food pictures! Love it. I KNOW..summer weather here in Boston..can’t wait (I’m in Cambridge). I’m a former HW’er..was a founding member at the Boston location and then joined the Cambridge one when I moved to Cambridge. I *wish* that I had locked in at the Boston location back in the day ’cause the price has skyrocketed (like tripled since 1996..used to pay $29/mo.). I love love love HW too but I know at least the Cambridge location is out of my budget so I joined a smaller gym that has everything I need. I miss the beautiful decor and the amazing variety of classes but I think the price for HW has jumped beyond what is reasonable for me to pay unfortunately. =(
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT WEATHER WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO.
and great new blogging plan
I’m willing to pay more for a nice gym membership. A couple reasons why:
- If you’re not lucky enough to live in a part of the country that’s nice most of the time, it’s an essential part of being motivated to work out. There’s no way I’m running 50% of the year in freezing temps/rain/whatever.
- I love the classes and the varities of equipment you can use
- Convenience- I pay more for a gym with locations close to work and home so I always have the option of going. I can squeeze in a lunch workout, if need be, for example.
- MOTIVATION. Pure and simple. It really helps me to be surrounded by other people exercising and the atmosphere of the gym really helps me get going!
PUFFINS!!!
**I love my gym – it’s beyond amazing; and my trainer is kick-ass.
great new blogging plan. Remember, you have to do what works best for YOU.
Love those lil puffins!
I’m willing to pay more for a nice gym membership.
I love the classes and the newer equipment you can use
I pay more for a gym with locations close to work & home so I always have the option of going before work, after work, on the weekends, no matter where I am I can find a gym to use.
I do have a limit on what I will pay, as long as I can afford it I will choose the nicest gym I can. Plus if I am paying X amount a month you know I am going to go to it.
Good luck with the new changes!
I love your water bottle.
Cute sigg. Pretty bowl of Breks too.
that’s awesome about HW!
Sounds like the new schedule will work well for you! You need a jar of pb at the office
Healthworks has changed my life. I LOVE that place.
I love my gym and I’m lucky it’s only 20 a month, although it doesn’t offer any classes. I don’t think I’d pay more money.
I don’t do the gym thing. I’m lucky enough to live in Florida where it is okay to exercise outside pretty much year round =)
Gotta love outdoor seating =)
If I had the money, I would invest a lot in a good-quality health club/gym. It’s for your health, right? Plus, if you know you’re paying a lot for it you will be more motivated to go.
Check out my blog as I run with Team in Training and raise money for blood cancers!
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The most I would pay is 65, which is what I pay now. My gym has it all plus classes are included so I think it is a good investment.
I think the most I’d pay is $50/mo…but you’re right, quality gyms are serious gems!
your lunch is like, my ideal lunch! sweet, savory, veggies, crunchy, love it!
It was 100 here yesterday – supposed to be 80ish this weekend
I have decided to stay with my cheaper gym ($35/month) instead of upgrading to one that is double the price so that I can keep taking yoga at a separate studio. I pay wayyy too much for yoga, so I went with the cheaper gym!
The little things make me happy too! And I love the warm weather.
Did you hear that Barney Butter is having free shipping until the 26th with the code AprilShip? You just need to order two items. Just in time!
Just two items? That’s then $15 for two jars of a nut butter…still plenty pricey.
My gym costs $100/month but I pay nada b/c I got the hookup
It’s a very nice gym with lots o’ classes, jazuzzi, sauna, etc.
my gym is quite pricey, too, but there really is a difference!
in the spas and saunas/steam rooms/jacuzzis, i mean
As a fellow Healthworks member, I pay quite a bit for the gym ($90…). But, for the excellent classes, top quality equipment, and sparkling clean locker rooms, it’s worth it! I’ve belonged to Healthworks for five years, and I love it!
I pay like, nothing for my gym b/c i’m on my mom’s 24 hour membership- but it’s crappy..so I’d definitely pay up to maybe $50 for nicer showers/equipment, etc. I’m still a student though so I’ll wait to make that investment! Last night, I made the “garlicky pinto bean” recipe you posted from the other night, but with black beans- OMG it is amazing and even better the next day, thanks
!
I love the idea of puffins and chocolate chips!
We pay $220/mos. (gasp!) for our gym membership. That is for 2 people. We love it, and it’s more like a really nice spa. The locker rooms are equipped with everything – hair product, straightening irons, body lotion, mouthwash, qtips, etc. It’s worth it for us because of the convenience to our house, and it’s motivating to be in such a nice environment.
Tina, you should definitely check out the Harvard gyms if you haven’t already. I go to Hemenway (unfortunately, not for much longer) and I am a huge fan of the classes there. Body Bar on Wednesdays is my favorite, although it is during lunch time which is your new blogging time.
Breakfast without PB is a sad day…I’ve tried it and I don’t like it!!!
I pay 75 a month and that is with my corporate discount! I used to belong to a $20 gym. They closed at 3 on weekends and 9 on weeknights! There were only 4 ellipticals too! So awful! My gym now is open till 11 at night, I can go to any location in NY, and it has steam rooms and saunas! So worth it!
No matter what you do with the blog – I’ll still be reading! I’m a full CNC addict now
I always miss nut butters in my oatmeal if I leave them out too!
Your posts always make me miss home so much! I am from Cambridge but in Australia right now.
Honestly I am really cheap with gym memberships. I would rather just run outside anyways but maybe some day I will join a nice gym…
Glad you’re adjusting your posts to your life and not the other way around! It won’t be a big deal!
Hi Tina,
I am a first-time poster, but just want to say, I love your blog–and (hope this doesn’t sound too weird) your personality! You have such a positive and healthy attitude, it’s infectious! Anyway, when it comes to gym memberships, I think it is worth it to join a gym that you really enjoy being at and going to–my gym membership is about $200/month, which I know sounds crazy, but I am willing to sacrifice in other areas so that I can splurge on this. I love the classes, the facilities, services, etc. and I think of it as the place where I can go where it is all just for me during the time I am there. And it is always worth it because, as the people at L’Oreal would say, “I’m worth it!”
Thanks again for doing such a great job!
Hmm, well, I pay $9/month for my gym membership, and since I never use it, I probably wouldn’t pay more. I prefer to workout at home with free weights in my basement, running for cardio, and yoga in my office. It’s more of a time-saver for me. The 15 minute travel time back and forth is half of my workout.
I pay $60 and I think that’s a lot for just cardio machines and strength training rooms. I might pay a bit more if there were other amenities, but I might also quit the gym and exercise in home/outside- I am in Florida after all!
I pay a LOT for my amazing gym, but the real reason I pay so much is because it happens to be next door to my apartment! So I am paying for both luxury AND convenience. But it’s worth it.
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