Hard Work Pays Off : Pact User Success Story!

Pact user Kris Rochelle reached out to us with a photo and kind words about the success that he has experienced using Pact app! We asked him a couple of questions about his story to share with the community at large and he graciously agreed! Check out the photo of his progress and what Kris has to say about staying successfully motivated with Pact below! 

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Shannon, Health Enthusiast from “The Glowing Fridge”, Blends Up A Cranberry Holiday Superfood Smoothie Exclusively For Us!

We’re a big fan of Shannon from “The Glowing Fridge” – a vegan blog filled with colorful recipes, daily eats, and healthy tips. A glowing goddess who writes from Chicago, Shannon dazzles us with her expertise in nutrition and health after she made a life-changing commitment to practice a plant-based vegan lifestyle. The transition to greens has led Shannon to truly experience a state of health that goes beyond maintaining a disciplined diet: she feels and breathes healthier – a glow that comes only from eating healthful foods. “Pampering our glow” is a term she’s given to describe the effect plant-based eating has on our bodies.

We asked Shannon to create something exclusively for Pact users. Using ingredients inspired by the holiday season, it’s no surprise that she blends up a nutritious, tasty treat. Pre or post-workout, as a breakfast supplement, while relaxing at home – there are many occasions to sip on this during the holidays. #CommitToYou by following this Cranberry Holiday Superfood Smoothie recipe packed with antioxidants, vitamin B, and much more! Thanks, Shannon!

 

Shannon from “The Glowing Fridge”

With the holidays in full swing, temptations are at an all-time high. Many of us start out the season on a healthy note, or at least we try our best! We set intentions and resolutions on how we want to stay health-conscious throughout the next few months. On the other hand, we want to savor the special moments and live a little. It seems like a battle year after year. After all, we do have shopping lists to tackle, cookies to bake, hot cocoa to sip on, cozy fires to snuggle up to and Netflix marathons to watch. Being mindful and staying nourished doesn’t have to be a battle though. By making small, realistic goals, we are more likely to stay on track, ease our minds, take some stress off, and enjoy a few treats without going overboard.

An easy way to make sure you’re incorporating nourishing fruits and vegetables into your daily eats (so you have less room for the tempting treats!) is by starting out your day with a smoothie. Not just any smoothie, but a creamy Cranberry Holiday Superfood Smoothie. This beautiful concoction of seasonal fruits and veggies with added superfoods will power you through your holiday hustle (aka trip to the mall) during the next few weeks and will help guide you to make healthier choices throughout the day.

So what’s in this holiday inspired smoothie?!

Cranberries are a popular holiday staple, usually seen in cranberry sauces and side dishes, but adding them to your morning routine is a delicious and immune-boosting way to eat with the seasons. The vibrantly colored cranberries are packed with antioxidants and protective plant chemicals (phytonutrients) which have anti-cancer and disease-fighting compounds. Adding frozen bananas gives it a yummy and creamy shake-like texture. For natural sweetness, we’re adding gooey medjool dates that provide fiber, potassium and copper. Maca offers hints of caramel notes and is the ultimate superfood powder for energy, stamina, hormone-balancing properties as well as iron and B vitamins, which are especially beneficial for those on a vegan diet. This smoothie has it all and will leave you feeling nourished, energized and balanced - a perfect mix for celebrations and festivities!

**I should add that for color and photo purposes, I did not add spinach to the smoothie but I highly recommend including greens whether it be from kale or spinach. Greens are king!

Cranberry Holiday Superfood Smoothie

½ cup fresh cranberries

½ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)

½ of a small beet, peeled

1-2 cups spinach or kale (optional)

2 bananas, frozen

2 gooey medjool dates, pitted

1-2 teaspoons maca powder

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk (or more as needed)

Do This:
Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Makes about 3 cups. Serves one.

Thanks Shannon for your contribution! Do you have a healthy recipe you’d like to share? E-mail stories@pactapp.com 

Kick Off Your New Years Resolutions with Pact and #CommitToYou

We’re all about helping you commit to your goals. Getting fit and staying healthy are hard - especially during this time of year when the holiday season, rainy weather, and family gatherings challenge us to stick to fitness and health regimens.

It’s important to set personal goals and strive towards attaining them. New Years resolutions are a great way to incorporate healthy behavior into your everyday routine. As a way to wrap up the year and bring in 2015, we invite you to participate in our new social challenge: #CommitToYou

1. Throughout December, keep us in the loop whenever you do something that counts towards your personal health goals by uploading content on Instagram and Twitter using #CommitToYou

2. We will be administering mini contests, inviting you to share tips, answer questions, or tell stories about your progress

3. Prizes will be given away weekly! Get your friends involved to win more prizes.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay in the loop on the challenge and prizes!

Crossing Places Off My Travel List: Trekking in Nepal (Part 1)

Nepal is home to the Himalayas, beautiful wildlife, rich culture, and kind-hearted people. Its landscape offers unlimited possibilities for trekking and mountaineering: immense mountains such as the Annapurna Circuit or Mount Everest bump Nepal to the top of the travel list for outdoor adventure seekers, wanderlusts, and young Jack Kerouac’s. Trekking along dirt paths, tiptoeing through slippery streams that glisten with rocks, whacking through untamed and unstrained vines, and climbing, climbing, and more climbing…it’s a physically enduring challenge that tests your stamina and strength, but transforms your spirit, leaving you with a refreshing new attitude towards your very existence. After wrapping up our 10-day trek and touching down in Syaulibazzar, twelve of us piled into an old, beat up Jeep with our luggage strapped to the top. Sweaty, exhausted, and silent (except for the occasional gasps and shrieks from barely clearing the cliff), an indescribable aura filled the air as we reflected on our journey.

My mom had planned this trip to Nepal in advance with a dear friend, but after graduating this past spring it was only fair that I invite myself and tag along last minute, right? Precursor: The closest activity to trekking that counted towards my outdoorsy skill level prior to the trip had been “exploring” around Muir Woods, Point Lobos, and the occasional hike in Tahoe Donner. I wanted to go on this trip for several reasons. It was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (being even more meaningful since I’d never left the country) and living in a busy, metropolitan city, it’s not everyday I find the time to surround myself with the great outdoors. Besides, no one would pass up an opportunity to scale alongside cliffs in the rural land, get fit, and exercise.  

 We started the trip in Kathmandu and took a 5-hour private bus ride northwest to Pokhara, a lovely city home to the enchanting Phewa Lake, where we stayed overnight in a hotel and left the next morning to Nayapul (1-hr drive North). This is where we started the trek; guided by our lovely leader, Rashan, and a group of 10, we were anxious to start our expedition!

I was the youngest out of the group; the age gap ranged from 22 to late 50s and travelers came from all around the world! Malaysia, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Baltimore were a few places we called home. Together we made a solid group that all kept the same pace for the most part and the porters, mountain men who carried our luggage, stuck by us at all times. If one of us needed a rest or gained a head start they were there to lead. The trails were busy during this time of the year with other trekkers, donkeys, and porters so throughout the whole trek we shared the road. Dirt, man-made stone steps, small streams, and bridges were all types of surfaces on which we traveled. 

The route:

From Nayapul, we starting trekking 1527 meters to Tikhedhunga and stayed overnight in a simple guesthouse. After breakfast, we hiked for 6 hours through little villages and the jungle. The villages along the way had rest stops, restaurants, and overnight beds for trekkers. In most cases, shops were painted bright, vibrant blue. Restaurants had tabouret windows with stunning, outdoor panoramic views. Children would frequently be playing or helping out in the kitchen. This was a reoccurring theme throughout the villages we’d pass on the trek.

Day two hike in the mountains was our hardest since it was a constant climb uphill by dirt path or stairs. In many cases, we had to move over to make way for the cattle as they passed with heavy cargo. The views couldn’t get any better as we ascended further up the mountain – we stopped frequently to take in the beauty and fresh air. After a few rest stops, we were happy to touch down in Ghorepani, where we stayed overnight after a butt-kicking 2775 meters.

As we reached the top, the clouds parted to reveal Dhaulagiri (the seventh highest mountain in the world) and Annapurna South. According to our guide, this was an extremely rare sighting…this was remarkable. I felt so tiny but hugely powerful at the same time amongst these marvelous, gigantic mountains.

The next morning we woke up at dawn, put on our warmest jackets and headlights, and climbed an hour up Poon Hill to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas. The highlight of the trip and perhaps a huge reason why people embark on treks to Nepal, this moment was simply incredible. Although the stairs to Poon Hill felt never-ending and they were crowded with other trekkers, I remember thinking to myself, “It’ll be all worth it at the top.” Here at 10,531 feet, we made it with time to spare! It was still moderately dark and in the distance, a thin, golden silhouette began to emerge. At the top was a busy lookout house, tourists setting up tripods and cameras, and a station selling coffee and hot chocolate. We sat on a ledge facing Annapurna South (7291m) with an unobstructed panoramic view of Annapurna (8091m), Fishtail Mountain (6993m), and Dhaulagiri (8167). The sun rose and beamed against the snowy white mountain peaks as they glistened with hues of light pink and orange. We were blessed on the occasion of seeing Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South from our guesthouse the night before, but this view from Poon Hill was second to none. Mom by my side, I felt extremely fortunate and grateful for this experience: the events leading up to this moment, the current state of feeling on top of the world, and the events still to come on our trek.

At the top of Poon Hill, don’t blink! You’ll miss it.

The Nepalese people believe the mountains are holy – their energy has a direct correlation to everyday actions or events. “Mountaineers do not say ‘I climbed Annapurna’ – they say ‘Annapurna let me climb her,’” it was said in Kathmandu, when we met for the first time as a group before the trek began. Among the Himalaya massifs, I understood their people’s belief that the mountains hold a kind of mystical power.

Continuing our trek to Tadapani, a 6-hour hike through the jungle, the weather decided to hail on us before we touched down. We took shelter in a mountainside guesthouse that overlooked the rest of the village, which was covered in gloomy clouds and damp from the downpour. Rooms were separated with plywood and were located above the lobby, a small set up with a fireplace, communal tables, and closed-off kitchen. After a hearty meal, we retired to our little cots and prepared for an early checkout time to Chomorong, a beautiful Gurung village, the next morning. The trek to Chomorong was mostly downhill as we passed along riverstreams and paced down log stairs for 2060 meters. Once we arrived to our last teahouse stay, we rewarded ourselves with Everest tall cans and walked down to Jhinu for a natural hotspring bath.

The baths are surrounded by enchanting scenery and radiates with energy from the lively watercourse. There was a 100-rupee admittance fee (equivalent to 50 cents) and they sold individual shampoo and soap packets at the entrance. The site is equipped with a few showers and changing rooms. There were three different baths, man-made alongside a river with a powerful current, with temperatures around 70-degrees Fahrenheit. Although we were the only ones wearing t-shirts and shorts (all the other ladies were sporting bikinis) we felt it was necessary to respect the Nepali culture and dress modestly in public.

We wrapped up our last night in the mountains with a simple dinner and a surprise cake - a kind gesture from Rashan. After buying a few rounds of drinks for the porters and feeling a little loose ourselves (I blame it on the altitude), we took the party uphill to a teahouse next door and danced around the quad until community complaints forced the music off. What an eventful way to end our last night in the highlands of Nepal! After six days of trekking together our group had become like family. Extending encouraging words to help climb infinite stairs, learning more about a team member’s culture overtea breaks, and borrowing toilet paper from each other were a few ways that this trek brought us closer. Now that it was ending, I felt bittersweet when we geared up and made our way downhill to our final destination in Syaulibazzar. Here we would take the bus back to Nayapul, where the journey began.

This trek has allowed me to learn the different culture, customs, and traditions of Nepal, while exploring its wondrous terrain. We were blessed with exceptional hospitality and a highly gifted tour guide who fed us with fun facts, great food, and lots of laughs. Nepal has changed my perception on outdoor trekking and has left me with this burning desire to emancipate myself with nature more often. Hiking outdoors gives you a lot of time to think, an escape from your everyday. I came off the plane at SFO with a handwritten note-to-self in my back pocket (more-so along the lines of a 3 item checklist). Learn to take it all in and cherish it. Do things that make you happy. Outdoors is free.

“At the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair should be messy and your eyes sparkling.” -Shanti

The 5 Emotional Stages of Barre Class Explained Through GIFS

There’s been a lot of buzz about barre classes lately. Whether you’re a Pure Barre fan, a Pop Physique kid, or a Bar Method devotee - there’s a studio out there for ya.

But what is barre class really like? How hard can it really be? Here’s the 5 emotions you’ll go through during class - all explained via GIFS.

1. Excitement:  Don’t celebrities go to barre class? It’s like a fancy ballet class for adults. You’re so ready to kick some bootay. 

2. Dedication: Ok - maybe this is a little bit harder than you thought it would be. You should have never giggled at the 2 lb. weights during the beginning of class. But you got this - you’re in it to win it. 

3. Pain: Who ever knew those little movements could be so painful? Your legs are shaking and you want to cry at the thought of doing another plank. All you can do is close your eyes and push on through it. 

4. Defeat: There will come a point when you’re ready to call it quits and walk out of the studio with your head down in shame. Embrace the shake? No thank you - I’d rather embrace my bed and Netflix. 


5: Accomplishment: You did it! You made it through #buttschool. You are a fitness warrior. Don’t you feel awesome? Now run to the front desk and buy yourself the monthly unlimited pass.

Have a Pact story to share? Want to guest post on the blog? We’d love to hear from you! Email stories@pactapp.com.

Risa Xu Shares Her Favorite Spots In Boston To Get Fit!

Whether it’s sharing personal style tips, staying fit with flare, or schooling us with what’s hot on the runway, Risa is your go-to girl for all things fashion and fitness. She attended our Pact x The Handle Bar spinning party in Boston a few weeks ago, where we ended the workout with cider and cold pressed juices (read up on her experience)! Born in China and having migrated to the United States at age 2, this gal has traveled more than half of the United States with her parents, who were acrobats frequently on tour for show productions. “So I really did grow up in the circus,” Risa says. So neat, right? She currently lives in Boston as a student, but has big plans to move to New York City after. You can get a sense of how committed and passionate Risa is to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying active (while looking darling, of course) via her blog.

After finishing her first-ever spinning class with us, Risa was inspired to share her favorite workout spots and classes in Boston! To all of our Bostonians, you’ll definitely want to check out these places if you haven’t been before. Risa, we’ll let you take over…

There’s lots of things I’ve learned from moving to Boston — from learning how to multi-task when multiple teams are playing at the same time, to how to make it down Beacon Hill when there’s a blizzard, all the way to how all five feet of me can avoid getting trampled when the sidewalks are a little busy. But if there’s one thing I can absolutely give credit to Boston for doing for me, it’s getting me into the best shape I’ve ever been in. It’s been a combination of lots of things but I think one of the best things Boston has to offer is the variety of classes and the sense of community that is forever present. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite ways to get fit and classes you have to try!

Run Club

Where: Nike Boston Run Club, 200 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

When: Every Tuesday, Thursday 6:30PM, Every Saturday 9:30AM

Given my work and class schedule, I’ve only ever been able to attend the Thursday runs. Hopefully before I move, I’ll be able to squeeze a couple more sessions in. There’s other run clubs in the city (Marathon Sports hosts their’s on Wednesdays!) but the team at Nike Boston has my heart.

I mean, they take a group selfie before the run, they stretch to Michael Jackson at the end, and they adjust themselves to the group’s pace for the night. They even have themes — we all dressed in Pats gear when the Pats played the Giants on a Thursday night!

I’m definitely not the fastest runner — my fastest mile to date is 9:08 but my average pace still hovers just around 11 minutes — but I’ve never felt discouraged because I wasn’t as fast as the group of people at the front.

They have two distances you can choose from: a 3-miler or a 5-miler. And whether you’re a coconut water lover, a nuun devotee, or just want some plain ol’ H2O, you’ll have access to that at the end of the run.

Yoga

Where: Health Yoga Life, 12 Temple Street, Boston, MA 02114

When: Daily yoga classes for different levels. Check (https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/home?studioid=6205) for a full schedule

I was always intimidated by yoga — those handstands, those back bends, those… what do you even call that?! But I’ve always been fascinated by it. And when I found that Health Yoga Life was right around the corner from where I was living at the time, I figured it was time to give it a shot.Yoga, at some point, became more of a therapy for me, a place for the daily stresses and annoyances to leave my mind. I almost forgot that I was sweating and giving my body quite the workout.

Whether you’re wanting to try yoga for health reasons, for clearing out your mind, or if you just want to learn how to do handstands and headstands, Health Yoga Life has something for you. My favorite classes were always led by Vyda, who is also one of the founders of the studio. There’s a way her classes flow in combination with her voice that is just perfect for me.

One of the classes that stands out in my mind the most is when HYL organized a free class after the Boston Marathon attacks in 2013. I think that day was when I really appreciated yoga for what it is — it’s not about being better, more flexible, or whatever it may be than the person on the mat next to you. But rather, it was for a sense of community, love, and understanding, as well as physical and mental healing. All in all, the studio is clean, is located pretty conveniently right in Beacon Hill, and brings a sense of community that is organic and doesn’t feel forced. I’ll definitely miss HYL when I move to New York!

Krav Maga

Where: Krav Maga Yashir Boston, 200 Terminal Street, Charlestown, MA 02129

When: Check their website for full class schedule (http://www.bostonkravmaga.com)

Okay, I’m sure this last one feels like it came out of nowhere. But you’ll see where this is going in a bit. 

I took a “donate-what-you-can” seminar in aid to the Red Cross’ disaster relief fund in May 2013. The seminar was open to everyone and was all about being taken hostage and not letting it progress to the point of an abduction.

If you’re not familiar with what Krav Maga is, it’s the martial art that is taught to the IDF, or Israel Defense Force. It’s not really a “system” but rather it’s different ways to take on hand-to-hand combat — and it’s taught to IDF soldiers and operatives.

Their location? Getting there may or may not scare the living daylights out of you. I was still living in Beacon Hill at the time, and while there is a bus route that probably could have taken me to where they’re located, I figured I’d get a 2 mile run/walk in. On the bright side, you get to walk past The Connie!

If you’ve never tried any type of martial arts but have always wondered, Krav Maga Yashir Boston offers a free trial class, seminars, a 4-week course, kids’ Krav Maga, as well as a free women’s self defense program every Sunday.

If you’re interested in my recap about my experience from that day, you can read all about it here on my personal blog. Gershon Ben Keren, the head instructor at Krav Maga Yashir Boston, also writes a fantastic blog that he updates frequently: http://www.bostonkravmaga.com/kravmaga-blog.html)

Sadly, I don’t have in action photos from this day — but check out their website for some awesome pictures from their seminars and classes!

In a little more than a month’s time, I’ll be packed up and moving to New York City — while this is bitter sweet, it’s a new journey for me, which means it’s a new fork in my fitness journey as well. I’d love to hear what all of your favorite places are — whether it’s in Boston, NYC, or your local area. Everyone benefits from knowing where the best places are and what might be really awesome to try!

Let me leave you with one last thought: If you ever visit Boston, run along The Charles. I don’t care if you’re not a runner, if you’re a marathon runner or you’re couch-to-5k’ing it — take a quick jog around The Esplanade and appreciate all the beauty that Boston has to offer. #BostonStrong

Thanks Risa for sharing your top gyms and fitness classes in Boston! We look forward to visiting these spots next time we’re in the area. 

Cheers,

The Pact Team