A Day in the Life; Pre- Hot Yoga Routine

If you couldn't already tell by my last few posts, and a whole bunch of tweets my newest obsession in hot yoga. One of my goals for post-college life was to have a regular workout routine again, after I moved out and closer to my new job my friend and I began practicing hot yoga after finding a deal on Groupon.  It's been about a month and a half since I started and I am seeing major results. I mainly wanted to tone up, and am seeing a slight change in my arms, and a major difference in my core muscles. I won't have abs in time for the shore, but I feel way more confident now than I did before beginning hot yoga.  Another goal I had post-graduation was to take care of my body more, cut out fast food and eat healthier. Now I've never been a huge fan of fast food, so cutting that out wasn't too hard. I'll eat it occasionally but only when I'm pressed for both time and cash. There are much better options out there! It's been even easier to follow this healthy eating plan since i began practicing yoga, because I can feel a difference when I am not giving my body the things it needs. Now I am sure to always have some fruit, multiple vegetables a day and plenty of water.  If you're curious here's what my typical diet consists of when I am going to yoga or the gym: 

Breakfast

For breakfast I either have overnight oats, or a waffle. Lately I have been eating strawberry, blueberry waffles or overnight oats with some sort of fruit mixed in. 

Lunch

I almost always have a salad with added protein. I'm lucky enough to have a pretty great range of options in my office building so I usually hit the salad bar and add plenty of chicken, chickpeas, and extra veggies. My friend and I have been trying to partake in "Meatless Mondays" so on mondays I sometimes opt for a veggie burger, or have a salad with all my usual fixings but substitute the chicken for a hard boiled egg or two. 

Snack

Lately I've been packing a mix of berries and bringing them to work. I got little tiny snack containers and prep blueberries and sliced strawberries for each day of the week. 

Hydration

I keep a large container of coconut water in the break room fridge and switch between that and regular water. Coconut water is a great way to replenish electrolytes. 

Ruck Pack

Pre-Yoga

Thanks to Brandbacker I recently tried Ruckpack. Ruckpack was developed by Marine Special Op Forces. They have a whole series of nutrition products, but I tried out their energizer shots. These shots come in 3 flavors strawberry, citrus, and raspberry. My favorite was raspberry. You can drink these bottles straight, or mix with water. I prefer to mix these in a glass with water. What drew me to these products is that they are made with natural sweetness, colors and flavors, and of course they are veteran owned. These shots also contain Nootropics. Nootropics are a brain food and can help enhance memory, focus, mood, and motivation. If you're interested in Ruckpack use code 'BB075' for 20% off. 

Pre-Yoga/Dinner

I also usually have a small meal before yoga, otherwise I find I'm thinking about food. It's usually leftovers from the night before or if I have more time I'll make dinner and have a small plate before class. Lately I have been making pasta (either lentil, chickpea, or whole wheat) with broccoli, spinach, sautéed garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil or chicken with vegetables and brown rice. When I return I usually have another small serving, If I feel my body needs it. Yoga has taught me to listen to my body more whether thats about self care, eating right, or taking care of myself when I'm sick or injured.  What is essential to your pre-workout routine? Let me know in the comments below.     Follow